Sedgefield second Sailors Warn once beat Thousand Stars over hurdles but he's not managed a win in this country. Pistol is another with a poor recent strike-rate but Renoyr ground out a victory at Market Rasen earlier this month and has been placed over course and distance off this mark in the past. STAND TO REASON runs here rather than at Market Rasen and has been dropped a further pound since his latest fourth at Kempton. He's handled soft ground well enough in the past so gets a tentative vote with the mare Aces Over Eights and Hitman Hearns better over further.
Sailors Warn (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Held up mid-division, went 2nd before 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Mixboy (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Renoyr (FR) 11-4fav (11-10) Held up, headway when hit 3 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating Nebula Storm (11-11) by 3 3/4l, 8 ran.
Hartside (GER) 15-2 (11-5) Always towards rear, 7th of 11, dist behind Holly Bush Henry (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Stand To Reason (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, lost 3rd place last strides, 4th of 12, 6l behind Presenting Arms (11-11) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Hitman Hearns (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Pressed leader, slow 1st, led 3rd, 8 lengths clear 3 out, headed approaching last, weakened flat, 4th of 10, 16 3/4l behind Great Fighter (11-0) at Hexham 2m mdn (5) gd in Sep.
Pistol (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, led 7th, ridden 2 out, headed next, rallied gamely run in, just held, 2nd of 11, nk behind Divine Port (10-13) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Aces Over Eights (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) With leader, led 5th until pushed along and headed before 2 out, weakened soon after, 7th of 10, dist behind Bonnet's Vino (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Bold Henmie (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, lost place before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 9, dist behind Alizee De Janeiro (10-12) at Kelso 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Catchin Time (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, chased winner next, blundered last, never a threat, 3rd of 8, 13 1/4l behind Hollywood All Star (11-3) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
