Arthur's Pass arrives in much better form than Noble Legend having landed a double over these fences last month. However, both will find life difficult taking on better opposition including Problema Tic, who fell in the Becher at Aintree in December but has the past form to go very close. Tenor Nivernais has struggled a little since scoring at Bangor last year but has scope for further progress this season as does CURRENT EVENT. He had an off-day in better company at Wincanton last month but had beaten subsequent winner Bally Legend in good style at Kempton before that and gets another chance in this.
Problema Tic (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, jumped slowly 3rd, headway 11th, 4th when fell 17th, in a race won by Hello Bud (10-0) at Aintree 3m 2f Listed hcp chs (1) hvy in Dec, 16 ran.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 11-8 (11-4) Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd after 7th, not fluent 11th, pushed along and every chance when hampered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Milans Well (10-11) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (4) hvy in Jan, 4 ran.
Current Event (FR) 13-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, struggling 10th, pulled up before 12th, in a race won by Big Fella Thanks (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Arthur's Pass 13-8fav (11-10) Pressed leader, led 5th, ridden after 2 out, edged right after last, stayed on (no time taken), won at Leicester 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan beating Sawpit Supreme (10-4) by 3l, 6 ran.
Noble Legend 4-5fav (11-12) Led, pressed, headed and bumped 5th, chased winner until 8th, lost 3rd and weakened 4 out, tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind Ringa Bay (11-4) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan.
