A poor race granted the decent prize money on offer and TELL HENRY is the call over King Of Confusion and Creinch. Tell Henry won well at Wetherby last week and gave the impression that there was more to come. A winner earlier in his career with give underfoot, he can make racefitness count. King Of Confusion has the lack of that as an obvious negative. Ferdy Murphy's runner has obvious claims on his hurdling form though his stable companions have tended to need their first outing of the campaign. Creinch is a regular in events of this nature. It would be disappointing were this exposed sort to prove good enough. Peak Seasons, Barati, Iron Hague and Finnegans Rainbow were all ordinary over hurdles and their chasing careers have proved little to write home about. Tell Henry has plenty of ticks in the right boxes and is afforded our nomination.
Tell Henry (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Made most, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well flat, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf beating Star Shot (11-6) by 4l, 9 ran.
Barati (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Held up, behind from 8th, 10th of 12, well behind High Jack (11-3) at Towcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Creinch 8-1 (11-0) Held up in last place, improved 10th, outpaced approaching 12th, 3rd and 15 lengths down 3 out, headway approaching last, ridden to lead briefly flat, ran on, 2nd of 5, 1l behind First Feerie (10-7) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Finnegans Rainbow 100-1 (10-9) Jumped left, mistake 9th, always towards rear, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Psychomodo (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f beg chs (3) gd.
Iron Hague (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 6th, weakened next, 10th of 15, 27l behind King's Majesty (11-3) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
King of Confusion (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up, ridden after 9th, weakened 12th and pulled up 3 out in race won by Boomshakalaka (11-8) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Peak Seasons (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Mistakes, mid-division until 11th, tailed off when fell at the last in race won by Psychomodo (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f beg chs (3) gd, 10 ran.
