Plan Of Escape could be worth a market check following wind surgery and a break but RELKADAM looks the one to beat. Tim Easterby’s seven-year-old won a shade cosily at Catterick and his jumping has improved with experience. Ashjan has shown promise over fences and Not The Chablis has been getting closer and was a winner over hurdles here a year ago. Road Warrior is preferred to Book Of Invasions of the remainder.
Book Of Invasions (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Held up, not fluent 4th, headway 12th, 3rd and no extra from 2 out, 3rd of 5, 10 3/4l behind On A Promise (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Road Warrior 11-4 (11-1) Led until hit 3rd and headed, led again 8th until before 10th, pressed leader, in front again narrowly 4 out, soon ridden, joined last, soon headed and no extra run-in, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Cybalko (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Skye Chief 6-1 (12-2) Held up off the pace in 5th, steady headway 11th, chasing leaders in 3rd and every chance when not fluent 4 out, ridden in 3rd and one pace 2 out, weakened into 4th towards finish, 4th of 6, 5l behind Old Salt (11-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Relkadam (FR) 13-2 (11-11) Midfield, niggled along to chase leader approaching 4 out, led before last, ran on flat, easily, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec beating Goldencard (11-7) by 3l, 10 ran.
Keep The River 8-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, outpaced before 3 out, well held after, 5th of 15, 20l behind Barnay (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Monte Alban (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) In rear, ridden and no impression 3 out, tailed off from 2 out, last of 13, 33 1/4l behind Get Your Own (10-12) at Southwell 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Not The Chablis (IRE) 11-4 (10-6) Held up, headway 11th, pressed leader 4 out, shaken up 3 out, narrowly led 2 out, ridden before last, headed run-in, kept on for second, 2nd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Brotherly Company (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Ashjan 12-1 (10-6) Prominent, midfield 4th, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, no extra, 6th of 8, 35l behind Calivigny (11-13) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Begoodtoyourself (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) In touch, disputing lead throughout, led 4 out, ridden after 3 out, joined 2 out, soon one paced, 3rd of 14, 6 1/4l behind Gustav (10-11) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Fourth Of July (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) In rear, pushed along before 3 out, headway after last without troubling winner, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Barden Bella (10-0) at Catterick 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Real Armani 17-2 (10-3) Prominent, pushed along before 4 out, not fluent and lost third 3 out, soon no extra, 5th of 11, 17 1/4l behind Light Flicker (10-8) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Plan Of Escape (IRE) 11-1 (10-1) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Aug.
Pc Dixon 66-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, bumped 7th, ridden 4 out, kept on flat, 5th of 12, 8 1/4l behind Eagle Ridge (10-8) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (5) gs in Dec.
