The market has been a good guide to recent renewals of this historic handicap with only one winner sent off at a double figure price in the last eight years and two winning favourites. Therefore, it may not pay to look beyond the obvious and we'll side with EXMOOR RANGER ahead of Theatrical Moment and throw Khachaturian into the mix at a slightly bigger price. Seven Is My Number has been well placed to win five of his six starts over fences this season and he's gone some way to fulfilling the potential he showed when cruising into contention in last year's Imperial Cup. He appeared to prove his stamina for this test at Sandown although that run did come in a small field and his only defeat came in a handicap over three miles at Ascot from a 10lb lower mark so he looks worth opposing. He also has something to find with Khachaturian on their running at Bangor in October as he's 8lbs worse off for a short-head on their running over two miles five. He may have improved since but there was also plenty to like about the run of Donald McCain's charge at Newbury last time and he has a nice racing weight. Theatrical Moment has taken some time to live up to the promise of his days in bumpers but he has been impressive over fences this season and looks capable of making further progress. He's 12lbs higher than when narrowly beaten in an Ascot handicap which is a cause for concern and he's worse off with Pretty Star who finished second that day. Another worry is that he has shown his best form on top of the ground although he did win a bumper on his sole start on soft ground so it may not pay to read too much into that. The concerns relating to Exmoor Ranger revolve around his jumping as that has let him down on numerous occasions. However, he did put in a clear round in a less competitive race than this at Newbury for which he's been raised by 7lbs which he should be able to cope with. The trainer is in a rich vein of form and the jockey booking is an excellent one and he makes the most appeal of the market leaders. Of the remainder, Calgary Bay and Killyglen make some each-way appeal at the top of the weights but the feeling is that the weight concession may just prove beyond them and we'd rather be with the up and coming Exmoor Ranger.
Calgary Bay (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Held up, headway 5 out, led 2 out, clear approaching last, won at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Dec beating Alderburn (11-3) by 7l, 12 ran.
Killyglen (IRE) 15-2 (10-6) Behind, headway and not fluent 7th, hit 10th and soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up 17th, in a race won by Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov, 19 ran.
Nozic (FR) 18-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, mid-division halfway, weakened before 4 out, 9th of 18, well behind Dream Alliance (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
Beat The Boys (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Led and bumped 1st, hit 3rd, stayed prominent, hit 14th, ridden and weakened 15th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 4 out, in a race won by The Package (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Seven Is My Number (IRE) 4-9fav (11-7) Made all, allowed to drift right 3 out, shaken up to assert last, readily came clear flat despite drifting right, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs G2 (1) sft beating Pigeon Island (11-0) by 18l, 2 ran.
Gone To Lunch (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, behind from halfway, pulled up 13th, in a race won by Dream Alliance (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 18 ran.
Kicks For Free (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Held up in touch, slow 9th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, under pressure last, not pace of winner, 2nd of 4, 7l behind Seven Is My Number (10-13) at Sandown 3m listed ch (1) sft in Dec.
Nenuphar Collonges (FR) 14-1 (10-0) Never travelling in rear, reminders 6th, mistake and driven along 8th, tailed off, 9th of 19, well behind Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
New Alco (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Held up, some headway to moderate 5th after 4 out, no impression leaders, 5th of 9, 30l behind Neptune Collonges (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs G1 fm in Apr '08.
Ouzbeck (FR) 11-1 (11-8) In touch, ridden after 12th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Atouchbetweenacara (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Exmoor Ranger (IRE) 4-1fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway into mid-division when hit 12th, stayed on after 4 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, challenged after last, kept on to lead final 100 yards, won going away, won at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov beating Ice Bucket (10-3) by 2 1/4l, 14 ran.
Regal Heights (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, losing place when mistake 16th, behind when pulled up 18th, in a race won by Galant Nuit (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Theatrical Moment (USA) 8-11fav (11-6) Tracked leader, led 4th, asserted 3 out, soon clear, eased flat, won at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) sft in Dec beating Prince Taime (10-11) by 7l, 3 ran.
Pocket Aces (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 11th, behind when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Long Run (11-0) at Kempton 3m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Brooklyn Brownie (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Towards rear, weakened approaching 4 out, 9th of 11, 43l behind Shining Gale (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Trabolgan (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, headway 16th, blundered 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out until blundered and weakened last, 4th of 12, 15l behind The Package (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) sft in Dec.
From Dawn To Dusk 22-1 (10-4) Towards rear, mistakes 7th and 12th, no chance, well in rear when hit 4 out, 8th of 17, 34l behind Poquelin (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grade 3 (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.
Always Waining (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, in 4th when fell 8th, in a race won by Dev (10-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Pretty Star (GER) 12-1 (11-6) Never travelling in rear, tailed off when pulled up approaching 12th, in a race won by Richard's Sundance (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy, 15 ran.
Zitenka (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Held up on outside, fell 11th, in a race won by Beat The Boys (10-12) at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov, 14 ran.
Khachaturian (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led 2nd to 4th, led again 7th, kept narrow advantage, blundered 2 out, soon pressed, ridden and headed last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Doctor Pat (10-13) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec.
Pak Jack (FR) 33-1 (11-6) Soon towards rear, pushed along and struggling 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Fortification (10-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
