Fortunate Isle, Elite Land and It's Bertie are three of the leading candidates but we'll give GLOBAL STRATEGY the chance to prove that his Wincanton run was no fluke. That run came in Anthony Knott's race back in November and saw the gelding post an improved performance to finish third for today's pilot. His record prior to that is less than convincing but he's relatively lightly raced and is on a nice racing weight and is given the chance to build on the form of his reappearance. Fortunate Isle has been well supported on a couple of occasions over hurdles but it took cheekpieces to enable him to open his account at Newcastle where he idled once hitting the front. He's potentially well handicapped but may not be the easiest ride for an inexperienced amateur. Elite Land was having his first run for Brian Ellison when running second to a well backed winner at Sedgefield and it would be no surprise to see him improve on that form on just his fifth start over hurdles. It's Bertie is more exposed than that pair but continues to perform creditably and looks likely to be there or thereabouts. The presence of one or two unexposed sorts in the field means that a market check is advisable but we're happy to take a chance with Global Strategy.
Borouj (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, progress into 4th 4 out, ridden and weakened from next, 14th of 20, well behind Rebel Run (11-5) at Cork 2m hcp hdl 0-102 sft in Oct.
Overbranch 10-1 (11-0) Led to 2nd, prominent, mistakes 4th and 8th, pushed along 12th, weakened 13th, 4th of 8, 37l behind Shatabdi (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f mrs nov chs (4) gs in Dec.
Rebel Raider (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden and steady progress after 3 out, stayed on, never troubled leaders, 7th of 13, 9l behind Sun Quest (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f sll hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Fortunate Isle (USA) 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and idled last, just held on, won at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Kingsdale Orion (10-12) by a hd, 12 ran.
Danish Rebel (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Prominent, saddle slipped 2nd, pulled up after next pulled up at the 4th in race won by Falpiase (11-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
Hapthor 16-1 (11-5) In touch until ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 9, 10l behind Divex (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m 4f amt hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
Sybellius D'artaix (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 13th of 14, 33l behind Longdale (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Illogical Hope (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, weakened 4 out, 11th of 15, 36l behind Son of Flicka (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Ice Image (IRE) 22-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2 out, 7th of 18, 17l behind Run Forest Run (10-9) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Pearson Glen (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened from next, 6th of 14, 25l behind Agglestone Rock (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Springvic (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) Held up, headway 3 out, hampered next, one pace after, 6th of 16, 16l behind Bedizen (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Elite Land 9-2 (10-11) Towards rear, smooth headway to lead 2 out, soon ridden and headed after last, one paced run-in, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Agglestone Rock (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Immense (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Prominent, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 9th of 18, 13l behind Kilmeena Magic (10-9) at Kempton 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gd in Nov.
It's Bertie 4-1fav (10-6) Led, ridden and headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 15, 9l behind Player (11-9) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Cumbrian Knight (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) In rear, struggling halfway, some late headway from 2 out, never dangerous, 9th of 16, 28l behind Lawgiver (11-1) at Catterick 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Art Gallery 10-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 15, 17l behind Mount Benger (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Global Strategy 11-1 (10-6) In touch, headway 4th, challenged approaching 2 out, soon led, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Wise Men Say (10-7) at Wincanton 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gs in Nov.
