CALUSA CRYSTAL has become something of a standing dish in contests of this nature and she can account for Miss Sarenne. The pair met previously at Huntingdon where the latter's jumping was not up to scratch. Nicky Henderson is sure to have schooled her extensively since and while the ground has to be in the back of the mind of those who have supported Calusa Crystal, she is the sort who should go on to picking up plenty more of these contests. Over Sixty acts on soft ground so it was no surprise to see Robert Thornton elect to ride her rather than Call Me A Legend. There is every reason to think that she will have come on massively for her run over hurdles. Jeremy Scott's Cool Friend snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at Exeter. That said, she has the edges of experience and racefitness. Call Me A Legend does have something to prove on figures but it would be no surprise to see an Alan King second string outperforming the first. A fascinating affair in which Calusa Crystal shades the vote.
Calusa Crystal (FR) 5-2 (11-0) Led, not fluent 1st, hit and headed 14th, led again between last 2, kept on, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f Mares Novice Chase (4yo+) (4) gs in Dec beating Miss Sarenne (10-7) by 6l, 3 ran.
Call Me A Legend 11-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out, blundered last, 6th of 12, 7l behind Get Me Out Of Here (11-4) at Newbury 2m con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Cool Friend (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, led approaching last, caught post, 2nd of 8, ns behind Carole's Legacy (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f Mares Novice Chase (4yo+) (4) sft in Dec.
Over Sixty 5-1fav (11-9) Held up mid-division, under pressure 4 out, soon beaten, 7th of 10, 16l behind Amber Brook (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Miss Sarenne (FR) 6-4fav (10-1) Held up in touch, pushed along approaching 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 5, 1l behind Nomecheki (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov stks (3) sft.
