Last Shadow was highly tried in his first season over hurdles and came good over this course and distance on heavy going last month. He's only been raised 5lb so has obvious claims with Maurice Linehan claiming back 3lb of that. Vaillant Creek stepped up on previous efforts in this country when second at Market Rasen and Johns Luck is holding his form well. He's gone up another 6lb since his latest second at Taunton, however, and seems better over 3m. MR FITZROY is penalised for his surprise victory at Lingfield 10 days ago but handled the testing conditions really well that day - a follow-up could be on the cards with a similar effort.
Theunnamedsoldier 66-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, mistake 1st, held up towards rear, struggling when mistake 3 out, plugged on into modest 3rd run-in, 3rd of 10, 30l behind Value At Risk (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) sft.
Mr Fitzroy (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, led 2 out, driven clear last, ran on well, won at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy beating Saint Raph (11-7) by 4l, 7 ran.
Last Shadow 6-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders on inside, left 2nd at 5th, pushed along to challenge 2 out, led last, driven clear flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov beating Mubrook (10-6) by 6l, 6 ran.
Vaillant Creek (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Led, ridden 2 lengths clear last, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Raktiman (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Barton Rose 6-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 8th, headway when mistake 3 out, no extra when mistake next, 7th of 8, 25l behind Magic Money (11-6) at Uttoxeter 3m mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Oct.
Johns Luck (IRE) 10-3 (11-8) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 7th, led narrowly 3 out, hard pressed from next, ridden and headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Dawson City (11-12) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Mister Bishop (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Led and keen, headed before 3 out, weakened before last, 7th of 9, 20l behind Boruma (10-11) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Zephyr 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened soon after, 4th of 7, 22l behind Cape Caster (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m 3yo mdn hdl (4) sft.
