This has cut up quite badly and Direct Flight looks to have been found a decent opportunity to open his account and gets the vote ahead of Royal Hector and Winsley. The last mentioned is entitled to be thereabouts but has been beaten off a 1lb lower mark in each of his last two starts and may again have to settle for a minor role. King Coal is lightly raced and open to improvement so has to be respected along with the Ian Williams-trained Detonateur, who is closely matched with Winsley on running at Ludlow last time. Direct Flight lost little in defeat behind the well-handicapped Desert Quest over hurdles last time and is still fairly treated back over fences off a 10lb higher mark than when scoring cosily at Hereford last month.
Royal Hector (GER) 14-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened after 11th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Albuhera (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov, 5 ran.
Direct Flight (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, led on bit after 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed last, ran on, not pace of winner, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Desert Quest (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd.
Winsley 6-4fav (11-8) Tracked winner, ridden 3 out, rallied flat, kept on, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Nayodabayo (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
King Coal (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Led 2nd, clear 8th, ridden and headed 2 out, blundered last, finished tired, 3rd of 5, 22l behind Harris Bay (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft.
Detonateur (FR) 10-1 (11-8) In touch, steady headway 12th, ridden when hit 3 out, no extra, 4th of 6, 4l behind Nayodabayo (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
