REBECCAS CHOICE gets our vote ahead of Count Boris and El Batal in a competitive race. Count Boris is sure to be popular as he bids for quick compensation having failed to land a gamble at Fakenham earlier in the week. He was comprehensively outpointed by an in-form rival on that occasion but merits respect as connections hope to strike while the iron is hot. Sean Curran has his string in good order and he saddles two interesting runners in El Batal and Captain Smoothy. The former is just 2lbs higher than when winning a fast ground chase in May 2008 but should handle the softer ground whilst the latter has a heavy ground hurdle win at the track to his name and makes his debut for the yard. Posh Emily is relatively consistent, Free To Air well treated and The Boat Shed and Roscrea too few miles on the clock to dismiss with comfort but preference is for Mark Rimell's runner. Rebeccas Choice is relatively unexposed, should be all the better for his reappearance run at Carlisle and has plenty of form, including at the track, which makes him of interest whilst Peter Toole is a noteworthy booking for the yard.
Aboukir Bay (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Prominent, went 2nd 6th, not fluent next, ridden before 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 12, well behind Hope Road (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Jun.
Nathan Dee 25-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 4th, 6th of 10, 19l behind Laconicos (10-5) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
El Batal (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) In touch, went 3rd approaching 4 out, outpaced next, rallied before next, upsides last, soon led and quickened clear, won at Plumpton 3m 2f 5yo nov hcp (4) gf in May '08 beating Earcomesannie (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Posh Emily 4-1fav (10-11) Raced wide, held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4th, led 3 out, joined approaching last, headed soon after, no extra run-in, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Strategic Plan (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Count Boris 5-2fav (11-10) In touch, driven to challenge after 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 15l behind Petroglyph (11-2) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Rebeccas Choice (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders and keen, went 3rd 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Do It For Dalkey (10-3) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Nov.
Free To Air 18-1 (11-2) Always behind, 9th of 14, 36l behind Manjam (10-10) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Captain Smoothy 14-1 (10-7) Always in rear, struggling from 9th, 6th of 7, 41l behind Zilcash (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chase (4) gs in May '08.
Roscrea (IRE) 11-1 (9-11) Held up in the rear, pushed along and weakened 7th, 6th of 10, 31l behind Bret Maverick (10-5) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in May.
The Boat Shed (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Prominent, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 4th, soon struggling, weakened after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Barizan (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Jul, 7 ran.
