Verdict
A really tricky puzzle to solve with most having some sort of chance on their best form. Requin, Flaming Gorge and Diamond Brook are probably best watched at present but Roi De Rose got taken off his feet behind Marodima over 2m at Warwick last time and is slowly coming down the weights. Scoter Fontaine got off the mark at Hereford last time and Sherwani Wolf has been knocking on the door over fences and is fairly handicapped. Tiger O'Toole may be capable of better and Valley View won at Towcester before landing a lower-grade race over C&D in December, but PLEIN POUVOIR has been running a little better than his form figures suggest this winter and his stable is in good form now. The nine-year-old gets a tentative vote though it would be no surprise to see Robin De Creuse in the frame again off his light weight.
Formwatch
Requin (FR) 9-2fav (11-9) Mid-division on outside, lost place 9th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Cruchain (10-9) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jan, 14 ran.
Song Sung Blue (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, weakened from 5 out, 6th of 8, 36l behind As De Fer (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Pouvoir (FR) 3-1fav (11-12) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, headway 9th, mistake 5 out, chased winner after 4 out, stayed on same pace and lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Down The Stretch (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Dinarius 28-1 (11-4) Led narrowly, hit 1st, headed 3rd, with leader, lost place after 5 out, ridden after next, weakened 3 out, mistake last, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Giorgio Quercus (11-7) at Haydock 2m 5f grd chs (5yo+) (2) hvy in Jan.
Tiger O'Toole (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Held up in touch in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 7th, went 4th after next, mistake 4 out, no impression 3 out, 4th of 5, 16l behind Oldrik (10-12) at Taunton 2m Novice Limited Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gs in Dec.
Simply Wings (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 11th, headed 4 out, no chance with winner, mistake 2 out, 2nd of 6, 25l behind Cristal Bonus (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chase (4) hvy in Jan.
Valley View (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, went 2nd before last, ridden run-in, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec beating Rebeccas Choice (11-4) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Scoter Fontaine (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Held up in 4th approaching 2nd, headway 5th, led after 4 out, clear 2 out, went left last, stayed on well, won at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs (3) sft in Jan beating Get It On (11-12) by 5l, 4 ran.
Flaming Gorge (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Mid-division, jumped slowly 8th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Oscar Gogo (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 15 ran.
Sherwani Wolf (IRE) 6-4 (11-0) Tracked winner, not fluent 8th, closed 3 out, driven and 2 lengths down when blundered last, no impression after, 2nd of 3, 15l behind Carpincho (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (4) sft in Jan.
Plein Pouvoir (FR) 6-1 (10-2) Led 2nd until 3rd, led after 5th until 5 out, no impression on winner next, one pace, 5th of 14, 23l behind Quincy Des Pictons (9-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec.
Cool Friend (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 9, 20l behind Kentford Grey Lady (11-0) at Kempton 3m mrs hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Roi De Rose (FR) 11-4 (10-10) Chased leader, not fluent 1st, hit 3rd, lost 2nd 8th, no extra last, 4th of 8, 11l behind Marodima (10-13) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Diamond Brook (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Led, not fluent and headed 2nd, prominent, weakened after 13th, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Zarrafakt (11-1) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
Robin De Creuse (FR) 4-5fav (11-0) Left 3rd at 2nd, went 2nd and blundered 3 out, trying to close and 2 lengths down when went right last, stayed on same pace and no impression flat, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Silver Roque (11-0) at Folkestone 2m mdn chs (5) gs in Jan.
