SHERWANI WOLF's form reads well and he is preferred here to Three Guesses, Whitcombe Spirit and Pliny. The selection shaped well in some soft-ground bumpers, winning two and finishing second on the other and his debut run over hurdles behind Silver Kate looks rock solid. He should have learnt plenty from that and fresh after a mini break he should run well. Pliny ran well behind Little George at Leicester on desperate ground and he will be seeing out his race stronger than others, Alonso De Guzman looks an interesting recruit to hurdles but has been off the track for some time, while the market needs watching in relation to the chance of both Easton Clump and Landenstown Star. Major Harry has shaped with promise so far but he will be handicapped after this run and that may be where his future lies, so a bigger threat could be Three Guesses whose reappearance run after a monster absence was filled with promise. Whitcombe Spirit and former Irish point-to-pointer Rossmill Lad are not discounted, but the nod is given to Sherwani Wolf.
Alonso de Guzman (IRE) 13-8fav (9-7) Led, ran wide entering straight inside final 2f, soon headed, chased winner after and closed again near finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Epsom Salts (8-5) at Lingfield 1m 5f app hcp (5) pol in Nov '08 (flat).
Ceepeegee (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, pushed along 7f out, outpaced over 5f out, 4th of 6, 29l behind Brackloon High (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 2f NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Easton Clump 33-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, led over 4f out, ridden 2f out, kept on until headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Mizzurka (10-6) at Newbury 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Dec.
Landenstown Star (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Soon tracking winner until ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 13l behind Kings Grey (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Major Harry (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, driven to challenge after 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 18, 33l behind Sandynow (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 11th of 15, well behind Vivarini (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Pliny (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Pressed leader to after 3rd, remained handy, mistake 7th, ridden when hampered 3 out, led before 2 out, headed 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Little George (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Quickdraw 66-1 (11-3) Held up, soon tracking leaders, weakened from 4 out, 8th of 11, 36l behind Stoney's Treasure (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) sft in Jan.
Rossmill Lad (IRE) 5-2 (12-0) Ww in mid div, v badly hmprd aftr 5out, eff to get to 2nd 2out but not get to wnr, 2nd of 18, 6l behind Inoneearoutdother (12-0) at Ballingarry 3m ire ptp in May.
Sherwani Wolf (IRE) 2-1 (10-7) Held up in mid-division, headway after 6th, jumped slowly next, challenged 4 out, every chance when mistake 3 out, mistake next, lost 2nd last, weakened flat, 5th of 11, 23l behind Silver Kate (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Three Guesses (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out, 8th of 13, 14l behind Meath All Star (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Whaxaar (IRE) 11-2 (8-9) Held up in rear, took keen hold, struggling over 3f out, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Dani's Girl (9-7) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec (flat).
Whitcombe Spirit 7-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, held up in rear, mistake 5th, driven along after next, not fluent 3 out and weakened, 5th of 8, 25l behind Sir Kezbaah (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Annie The Doc 50-1 (10-7) Held up, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 8, well behind Sir Kezbaah (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Douryna 66-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 7, 35l behind Topsham Belle (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy.
Meant To Bee (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up, struggling 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off 3 out, 5th of 6, well behind Sure Josie Sure (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 2f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
