Art Broker has hinted at ability and is interesting now qualified for handicaps. Big Robert should be all the better for his run at Kempton and is now tried in a tongue-tie, but Tom O'Tara has been a little disappointing since his close third over C&D in the autumn and Ajman is possibly better on faster going. Robain should find this easier than when down the field at Cheltenham in November, however, and Master Fong is gradually dropping down the weights. But the interesting one may be ZAFRANAGAR, who represents a trainer/jockey combination in terrific form. He won at Cheltenham and Kempton last season and landed an all-weather maiden at Lingfield by six lengths earlier this month.
Master Fong (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) With leader, pushed along over 3f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 9l behind Bivouac (11-0) at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Big Robert 20-1 (10-9) Mid-division on outsidce, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 14th of 16, well behind Ski Sunday (11-11) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Robain (FR) 7-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, ridden and struggling before 3 out, tailed off, 12th of 19, 38l behind Devil To Pay (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Zafranagar (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Took keen hold in 5th, mistake 3 out, weakened soon after, 6th of 9, 39l behind Alph (11-5) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov.
Art Broker (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, closed 3 out, ridden and every chance when hit 2 out, 3rd and beaten when not fluent last, weakened flat, 3rd of 9, 18l behind Featherbed Lane (11-5) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Tom O'Tara 4-1fav (10-0) Mistake 1st, in rear, headway into mid-division approaching 3 out, chased leaders when not much room on bend before next, soon ridden and carried head high, weakened after 2 out, 7th of 12, 38l behind Warne's Way (11-8) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Sweet World 13-2 (11-2) Took keen hold, in touch, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, weakened from last, 5th of 13, 8l behind Chrysander (11-8) at Taunton 2m 1f clm hdl (5) gs.
Ajman (IRE) 10-3 (10-9) Held up in last, pecked 2nd, headway on inside 3 out, soon slightly outpaced and switched left, closed to go 3rd before last, stayed on, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Spear Thistle (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Gunslinger (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, ridden and weakened next, 10th of 11, 37l behind Arrayan (10-5) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Double Handful (GER) 15-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened soon after, 8th of 9, well behind Dormouse (11-9) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy.
Galley Slave (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Scrum V (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Le Toto 20-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, headway approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 15, 24l behind Manshoor (10-9) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
