Question marks about all four and GENTLEMAN JEFF is taken to open his account over fences in the hope that he can reproduce his much-improved effort here last time when he would have caught Next To Nowhere in a few more strides, the pair 35 lengths clear of their nearest pursuer. Chris Grant has his string in good heart at present and his charge can go one better. Plunkett is by far the most experienced chaser on show and has a Stratford success to his name last summer. However, he's been most disappointing on his last three runs and is hard to enthuse over, although this does look a more straightforward assignment. Proud Times, a consistent hurdler, could be good enough but this is his chasing bow, whilst Zazamix has shown ability but clearly has issues about his jumping prowess at present.
Gentleman Jeff (USA) 16-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, outpaced 7th, left 3rd before 3 out, left about 5 lengths down at last, stayed on strong run-in, just held close home, 2nd of 7, nk behind Next To Nowhere (11-6) at Catterick 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Plunkett (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, hit 8th, headway 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 9, 24l behind Niceonefrankie (10-10) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Jan.
Proud Times (USA) 5-2fav (11-6) Chased leaders, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Koup De Kanon (11-12) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Zazamix (FR) 10-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, ridden 11th, outpaced 12th, tailed off, 4th of 6, 22l behind Dancing Art (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
