CALZAGHE is best off at the weights here and, having missed an engagement over the weekend in favour of this, he can make it pay, while Alternator looks next best in a weak contest. The Jim Best-trained selection ran up a hat-trick in November, and he acts well with plenty of cut in the ground. He will be fit enough after a recent spin on the Polytrack, and with McCoy booked for the mount there are plenty of positives for punters. Alternator was the narrow winner of a seller here last time, for which the handicapper has dropped him 2lbs. This shorter trip is not certain to suit and clearly the form was not that impressive, so the frame looks his best hope. Highland Homestead has failed to deliver in four previous runs over hurdles and has plenty to prove in this sphere and also on the ground, while Rustic Gold is at least proven in conditions, if not very good. Even so, in this poor company he would have to have frame claims. The others make no appeal on what we have seen and the confident choice here is Calzaghe.
Calzaghe (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, mistake 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, ridden and beaten soon after, 7th of 11, 22l behind Spirit River (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Rustic Gold 10-1 (11-11) Chased leaders early, 10th halfway, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Bangonform (11-11) at Sligo 2m 1f beg chs in Oct, 15 ran.
Alternator (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Always prominent, went 2nd and mistake 3 out, led approaching 2 out, all out flat, won at Leicester 2m 4f sll hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Timetoring (11-4) by hd, 6 ran.
Highland Homestead 5-1 (10-12) Held up in last pair until fell heavily 4th, in a race won by Treaty Flyer (10-7) at Plumpton 2m clm hdl (5) gf in May, 10 ran.
Racing Stripes (IRE) 200-1 (10-7) Took keen hold towards rear, stayed 2nd, never nearer, 9th of 13, well behind Makhzoon (10-12) at Leicester 2m cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) hvy in Dec.
Ten Hour Lunch 100-1 (10-9) In rear, jumped right 2nd, reminders after next, weakened 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by The Good Guy (11-2) at Stratford 2m 3f cnd/am sll hdl (5) gd in Oct, 8 ran.
Douchkette (FR) 66-1 (10-5) Took keen hold, held up, not fluent 3rd, some headway after 3 out, soon ridden and struggling, 6th of 9, 50l behind Anak (11-5) at Kempton 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
