led, ridden and headed 2 out, every chance last, no extra run-in
tracked leaders, pushed along 3 out, ridden to lead last, stayed on well
tracked leader, headway to join leader 5 out, ridden to lead 2 out, headed last, one pace run-in
Disappointingly just the four runners line up for this intermediate chase and it is hard to get away from Keith Reveley's Ungaro who showed decent form over fences last term and he is taken to make a winning reappearance here, getting the vote ahead of L'Antartique and Lankawi. The last mentioned showed decent form last term and has had the benefit of having raced already this season but Peter Bowen's gelding probably needs to improve to trouble the judge. Sue Smith's Mr Strachan showed respectable form over hurdles but has yet to race over fences so may be best watched and a bigger danger is likely to come from Ferdy Murphy's L'Antartique, who showed a good and consistent level of form last term. His form does not quite match that of Ungaro though and Keith Reveley's gelding gets the vote to make a winning return. Ebraam won well last time when beating Silver Prelude but this looks tougher and he looks vulnerable under his penalty.
Ungaro (FR) 5-1 (11-9) Held up, headway after 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 10, 26l behind Aces Four (11-5) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
L'Antartique (FR) 7-2 (11-9) Held up, blundered 2nd, hampered and unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Private Be (10-10) at Aintree 2m 4f amt nov hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Mr Strachan (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Towards rear, struggling halfway, 9th of 16, 12l behind Or Jaune (10-8) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Lankawi 20-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden after 12th, weakened after next, 11th of 19, 28l behind Knowhere (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
