Prime Venture makes his chasing debut off a 12lb higher mark than when scoring over hurdles at Ffos Las last month but should still go well if his jumping holds up. The switch to fences should suit Bill And Barn, who is a dual point-to-point winner and dead-heated in a novice hurdle here just under three weeks ago. Pure Vision won over fences at the second attempt at Ffos Las but FLINTHAM is sure to make this a searching test with a recent run at Exeter likely to have blown away a few cobwebs. He gets the nod with the jury out regarding Lessons In Milan and Bobo Mac at present.
Prime Venture (IRE) 8-11fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway on inside 4th, challenged from 3 out, led approaching last, clear flat, comfortably, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Fingerontheswitch (11-9) by 8l, 9 ran.
Flintham 11-4 (11-0) Jumped well, led, joined 4 out, headed 2 out, ridden and no extra before last, 2nd of 3, 16l behind Duel At Dawn (11-0) at Exeter 3m (3) sft in Nov.
Lessons In Milan (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) With leader, led narrowly 2nd, headed when blundered and lost place 13th, weakened and pulled up approaching 4 out, at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Nov.
Pure Vision (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-10) Held up, headway 4 out, effort approaching last, ridden and stayed on to lead near finish, won at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Star Tackle (10-11) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Bobo Mac (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 3 out, in 2nd and held when fell last, at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Bill And Barn (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up behind, headway after 5 out, pushed along before 4 out, challenged before 2 out, pressed narrow leader last, kept on and joined winner on line, won at Chepstow 3m (4) hvy in Dec beating Rhaegar (10-12), 9 ran.
