HONOUR HIGH would have made short work of these a few years ago and, considering he'd been off the track for a long time, ran as well as could be expected in a recent pipe-opener at Fontwell. Lady Herries' 10-year-old gets a tentative vote as the opposition are a modest bunch, though Emperors Choice should do better now going handicapping. Himrayn won twice over fences around this time last year and his last two runs over hurdles have been a little better. He is probably the pick of the remainder ahead of the lightly-raced Kowloon.
Himrayn 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden and hung right approaching 2 out, went 4th under pressure on long run to last, weakened before last, 6th of 12, 11l behind Storm Survivor (11-7) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Emperor's Choice (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, soon pushed along, lost touch after next, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Native Beauty (10-11) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Honour High 16-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway approaching 8th, went 3rd briefly approaching 2 out where not fluent, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 10, well behind King Of Castile (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Kowloon (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, mistake and went 4th 3 out, no impression, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 7, 29l behind Dirty Deal (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Bathwick Junior 150-1 (10-0) Chased leaders to 7th, soon outpaced, behind from 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 14, well behind Salubrious (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Upton Mead (IRE) 100-1 (11-3) Prominent, not fluent 7th, outpaced after 9th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, well behind Aikideau (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 5f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) hvy in Jan.
Fran's Folly 33-1 (10-11) Led after 1st, driven and headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 15, 26l behind Tickatack (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
Point Of Reference 40-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 12, 31l behind Hohlethelonely (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
