Little Glenshee took a heavy fall over a shorter trip here last time but had finished second over this distance earlier. Hidden Horizons, a winning pointer, was third at Downpatrick on her first start over fences and will probably improve but Brian Ellison can do little wrong at present and the Norton handler can land this with PHASE SHIFT. She won twice over hurdles and the way she kept on over 2m4f on heavy ground at Sedgefield last March suggests she'll handle today's step up in distance. Lady Of Verona faces the larger obstacles for the first time but can't be discounted if her jumping holds up.
Little Glenshee (IRE) 11-4fav (11-5) Prominent on outside until fell heavily 3rd, in a race won by Ballycool (9-9) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
Phase Shift 10-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, slow 7th, headway after 4 out, went 2nd next, never able to challenge, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Croco Bay (11-0) at Catterick 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Hidden Horizons (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division early, progress into 5th at 5th, 3rd before 4 out, 2nd next, ridden to challenge before 2 out, no extra in 3rd run-in, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Kylecrue (11-5) at Downpatrick 2m 2f beg chs gd in Dec.
Lady Of Verona (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders until 4th, close up, ridden to go 3rd 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 4th of 10, 9l behind Brae On (10-7) at Kelso 3m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Dec.
Harrys Whim 40-1 (10-0) Disputed lead until fell 12th, in a race won by Swatow Typhoon (11-0) at Newcastle 3m beg chs (4) sft in Dec, 5 ran.
