prominent, under pressure 8th, soon outpaced, headway after last, stayed on well, no chance with winner
led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, staying on same pace when not fluent last
held up in touch, hard driven approaching 2 out, never able to challenge
tracked leaders, hard driven approaching 2 out, soon one pace
chased leaders, led 3 out, driven after next, stayed on strongly
soon behind and detached, tailed off when pulled up after 7th
RINCE DONN is the nominal selection ahead of Huntingdon winner She's Humble and Katalak. The last named is of interest on the pick of his efforts in Ireland but he has plenty to prove under testing conditions and couldn't confidently be put forwards and nor could Black Ven or Bushwacker given that they failed to complete last time. Mister Pink, however, is worth a second look as the gelding makes a belated debut over fences. He has won on testing ground and is extremely well handicapped on his old form so he's well worth bearing in mind. She's Humble landed a contest of similar strength with a bold front-running display but that was only the second win of her career so there must be some doubt about her ability to follow up. In fairness, she has won one more race than Rince Donn but the selection also comes into this race on the back of one of his better performances. He's effective under these conditions and is on a decent mark so he gets the nod.
Black Ven (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Not much room and hampered 1st, mainly always in rear, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Buffalo Bob (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov, 13 ran.
Bushwacker (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Led, headed 8th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Pavillon Bleu (11-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Katalak (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, blundered 1st, no chance when blundered badly 3 out, virtually pulled up flat, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Present Gale (11-3) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Jul.
She's Humble (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Made all, driven out flat, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft beating Laharna (11-10) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Rince Donn (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, steady headway to chase leaders from 10th, led 3 out, narrowly headed between last 2, rallied to regain lead last, driven over 1 length clear, idled and caught post, 2nd of 10, shd behind Cesium (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Mister Pink 6-1 (10-11) Mid-division, pushed along and head in air when lost place before 5th, behind from next, tailed off when mistake last, 11th of 14, well behind Bathwick Man (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jun.
