Maljimar has the form to win this with Lord Jay Jay and Our Jasper both worth noting in the betting market. The selection is better judged on his penultimate run when second to Knowhere as he was unseated at the first when sent off favourite at Newbury last time out. His form prior to that had been impressive as he won a nice race at Newbury last season. He looks relatively unexposed over faces and still looks on the up grade. Lord Jay Jay was a model of consistency last season and continued that run of luck when scoring at Ascot on his first run for over a year. He is now thirteen pounds higher in the weights as a consequence which will make life tough for him from now on but with a nice racing weight to carry he must be respected. Our Jasper is bidding for his fourth win of the season after wins at Bangor, Market Rasen and here last time out. He again is on the up grade but it remains to be seen whether a further seven pounds extra will hamper his chances here. So for the winner we return to Maljimar.
Bambi de L'Orme (FR) 50-1 (10-7) Held up towrds rear, headway approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 20, 31l behind L'Antartique (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Nov.
Coat of Honour (USA) 33-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, blundered when struggling 2 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Millenium Royal (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
Lord Henry (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Keen, held up, headway to lead 7th, mistake 9th, ridden and headed when mistake 2 out, weakened, 4th of 10, 20l behind The Wicketkeeper (10-10) at Ascot 2m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gf in Nov.
Cossack Dancer (IRE) 22-1 (11-9) Led, headed last, rallied to regain lead flat, kept on well, won at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov beating Herecomestanley (10-9) by 1l, 11 ran.
Bleu Superbe (FR) 14-1 (10-6) In rear until blundered and unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Hoo La Baloo (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Nov, 10 ran.
The Entomologist (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, led 8th, made rest, driven and stayed on gamely flat, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov beating Donovan (10-9) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Maljimar (IRE) 6-4fav (10-10) Badly hampered and unseated rider in race won by Kelrev (10-11) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs, 11 ran.
Medison (FR) 5-2jt-fav (11-6) Led to 2 out, soon no extra, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Nevertika (11-0) at Hexham 2m nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Our Jasper 15-8fav (11-12) Jumped right, made all, hard pressed from 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on well flat, won at Doncaster 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf beating Alroyal (11-6) by 2l, 5 ran.
Lord Jay Jay (IRE) 2-1fav (10-4) Made all, clear from 6th, unchallenged, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov beating Roznic (10-12) by 13l, 5 ran.
Daldini 4-1 (10-9) Held up, not fluent 10th, shaken up 12th, progress after 3 out, led 2 out, edged left before last, hung right and headed flat, one pace, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Big Rob (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Nov.
Pseudonym (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, ridden to lead last, stayed on well, won at Doncaster 2m 3f beg chs (3) gf beating Le Corvee (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Salhood 3-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, headway to challenge when blundered badly 4 out, stayed on under pressure to lead before last, ridden right out, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf beating Waterspray (11-9) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
