In this wide open renewal of the Lincolnshire National it may just be worth siding with ARCTIC SHADOW, who may enjoy this stamina test, although Tarquinius has a really good shout too as does Dark Ben after his winning return to action. There's no denying the selection is on top form at the moment both over fences and timber including success over the big stuff here in the summer. He's running under a career high burden but looks the type to go well over this far. Tarqunius is also in a rich vein of form at the moment and is still open to a bit of improvement. He ran a good race in defeat over this distance last time and should be in the mix once more. Dark Ben was none the worse for his 1292 day absence when returning to score really well off a low looking mark last time. Like a few of these runners he has stamina to prove but should still be capable of a bold bid off this rating. Tank Buster won over course and distance in testing conditions last time out so needs respecting while Stagecoach Diamond should have stamina for this test and is fairly treated. It looks a good contest on paper and on turf and should go to Arctic Shadow.
Himalayan Trail 9-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 6 out, hit 11th, no impression, 3rd of 8, 42l behind Huka Lodge (10-8) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Minster Shadow 6-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, weakening when hit 5 out, 5th of 8, well behind Huka Lodge (10-8) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Tarquinius (FR) 4-1 (11-6) Led to 2nd, led 6th to 8th, chased leader, led last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Fine By Me (9-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Star Player (IRE) 9-2 (10-8) Tracked leaders, going well when pulled up quickly after 12th, lame, in a race won by Merigo (10-0) at Ayr 3m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Apr '08, 8 ran.
Arctic Shadow 10-3 (11-12) Chased leaders, led 5th, joined and pressed 2 out, stayed upsides and every chance until not quicken last 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Knock Em Dead (11-5) at Newton Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Aug.
Dark Ben (FR) 4-1fav (10-7) Made all, jumped well, clear 2 out, won at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov beating Silent Bay (11-11) by 17l, 9 ran.
Gershwinner (IRE) 7-2fav (11-7) Led to 8th, tracked leader, led again 11th, headed when hampered by loose horse before 13th, outpaced 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 10, 26l behind Waterski (10-4) at Kelso 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Irish Guard 12-1 (11-7) Chased leader, led 5th, slow next, narrowly headed when fell 3 out, in a race won by Free World (11-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Nov, 9 ran.
Quazy de Joie (FR) 7-2fav (11-2) Held up in rear, headway 14th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure towards finish, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Fine By Me (9-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Stagecoach Diamond 8-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, lost place approaching 11th, soon struggling, rallied after 4 out, led narrowly next, soon ridden, headed before last, hung right, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Bay Cherry (11-4) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy.
Silent Bay 15-2 (11-11) Prominent, chased winner from 13th, no impression from 3 out, 2nd of 9, 17l behind Dark Ben (10-7) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Tank Buster 5-1 (11-9) Made most, hard pressed when left 25 lengths clear 3 out, driven out, comfortably, won at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy beating And Whatever Else (11-4) by 30l, 6 ran.
Maori Legend 14-1 (11-2) Chasing leaders when fell 8th, in a race won by Kawagino (11-6) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft, 8 ran.
Oniz Tiptoes (IRE) 22-1 (10-13) Chased leader, weakened approaching 5 out, 7th of 11, well behind Mill Side (11-7) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Its A Classic 13-2 (11-11) Held up towards rear, not fluent 7th, led 11th, headed before 3 out, rallied, every chance next, hard ridden, stayed on under pressure to lead close home, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft beating Montana Gold (11-1) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Fourpointone 9-4fav (10-11) Disputed lead, driven to challenge after 4 out, upsides, every chance when fell next, in a race won by Tank Buster (11-9) at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy, 6 ran.
