Providing the ground doesn't become too testing TUSKAR ROCK is going to be hard to beat and he gets our vote from Double Hit and Waterski. Venetia Williams' six-year-old remains a maiden after 12 starts but has shown on more than one occasion that he should be able to take a similar contest. Today's trip of two and a half miles should be fine and the horse showed this mark of 112 is a fair one when taking second from it on his seasonal bow last time, so if he can draw some improvement from that race then a first win might be on the cards. Double Hit is a live danger despite having to shoulder a welter burden here. This promising mare took a two mile novices chase in some style on her fencing debut and on hurdles form this extra yardage will only help her cause whilst soft ground also holds no terrors. As she arrives here in rude health and as an unexposed mare, Donald McCain's charge might well start favourite but we narrowly prefer our selection although Waterski is a threat to both. Ryan Mania's mount stays further than this and won't go down without a fight should this turn into a severe stamina test. The gelding got off the mark at Kelso in November and ran well off this mark last time when second so from a lowly weight, and with the assistance of Mania, he should run a big race for his followers. Border Reiver also arrives here on the back of a decent second and although no match for the winner last time the handicapper has dropped Tim Easterby's horse 3lbs and so he must have a chance, particularly as the gelding's sole victory came at this trip. Traffic Control would be interesting but he's engaged to run at Newbury on Tuesday and is surely a doubtful runner so of more interest is Baltic Pathfinder for Sue Smith. The gelding is relatively unexposed and ran well off this mark last time in similar company and so has place claims, as does Signs Of Love although he might be a shade high in the weights. Both Supreme Builder and Mister Watzisname have to put disappointing efforts behind them but both should be capable of better, particularly the former who is bred to make a decent staying chaser. A competitive race that looks set to be dominated by the likely market leaders, of whom Tuskar Rock gets our narrow preference.
Double Hit 9-4 (10-12) Made all, blundered 4 out, in command from 2 out, left well clear last, won at Leicester 2m Mares Novice Chase (4yo+) (4) gf in Nov beating Princess Flame (10-12) by 19l, 5 ran.
Traffic Control (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Led until after 4 out, weakened after, 6th and no chance when pulled up before last, in a race won by Sergeant Harper (11-3) at Chepstow 3m NH mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar, 15 ran.
Mister Watzisname (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Prominent, lost place 4th, soon in rear, struggling in 8th place at 8th (5 out), tailed off when pulled up approaching 4 out, in a race won by Pavillon Bleu (10-8) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Tuskar Rock (FR) 5-1 (10-9) Led, ridden and headed last, kept on, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Robo (10-4) at Southwell 2m 4f cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) gd.
Border Reiver 16-1 (11-5) Held up, stumbled badly 5th, chased winner approaching 5 out, no impression, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Youngstown (11-9) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.
Supreme Builder 9-2 (11-3) Held up, headway to track leading pair before 11th, ridden, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next, in a race won by Bay Cherry (11-4) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy, 5 ran.
Signs of Love (FR) 13-2 (11-9) Prominent in chasing group, blundered 7th, ridden along from 10th, weakened and hit 4 out, 5th of 13, 47l behind Fighting Chance (11-7) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Foxesbow (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place 8th, 10th of 12, well behind Pavillon Bleu (11-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Baltic Pathfinder (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, headway to challenge 4 out, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Toulouse Express (10-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Waterski 9-2 (9-9) Held up in touch, went 2nd 4 out, one pace, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Bay Cherry (10-13) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov.
Midnight Diamond (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 31l behind Acknowledgement (10-0) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl (4) sft.
Naval Hero (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, blundered and lost place 5th, weakened 8th, tailed off when fell 3 out, in a race won by Our Hero (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov, 7 ran.
