In a competitive handicap chase we give Royal Artillery Cup winner MR BIG the chance to go in again at the expense of Peut Etre Sivola and Supreme Keano. With stamina for this trip and further the selection was a nice winner last time and off the mark he was close up off of at Folkestone in November he has every chance of following up on ground he likes. Peut Etre Sivola only found the one too good off this rating last time and although ultimately well held he looks booked for another decent effort with no issues on the conditions front. Supreme Keano also like this going and has been finding some decent efforts off comparable weights so can't be ignored neither can Sea Saffron with the form from his win last time looking rock solid, however, his suitability for racing in these conditions is still to be proved. A tight race this where a number have chances but our number one is Mr Big after his victory last time.
Never So Blue (FR) 22-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th and reminders, hit next, weakened 13th, pulled before 4 out, tailed off, in a race won by Carrickmines (10-0) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd, 12 ran.
Supreme Keano (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not always fluent, progress to go 5th 18th, not fluent 3 out, no impression before 2 out, stayed on flat, 4th of 9, 7l behind Fine By Me (10-6) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Mr Big (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Led 2nd until 4th, led 11th until 13th, hit 17th, led 3 out, kept on flat, won at Sandown 3m am chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb beating Bolachoir (11-11) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Peut Etre Sivola (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, under pressure 4 out, effort approaching 2nd last, never able to challenge, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Whitewater Dash (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Pass Me A Dime 4-1 (11-3) Led, mistake 2nd, headed next, chased leader until not fluent 8th, hit 11th, weakened approaching 5 out, 4th of 7, 18l behind Chance Du Roy (11-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Son Histoire (FR) 11-2 (11-8) Held up in touch, ridden after 14th, 4th and beaten when mistake 2 out, 4th of 11, 9l behind Go West (11-9) at Warwick 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
Sea Saffron 8-1 (11-4) Behind, pushed along before 5th, stayed on approaching 4 out, chased leading pair next, chasing leader when pecked 2 out, led last, ridden out, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Feb beating Bradford Boris (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
