Verdict

Plenty with a respectable claim but ex-French LE PATRON shaped well on first start for Gary Moore when runner-up at Plumpton at this trip and improvement should be forthcoming. He was a consistent four-year-old hurdler on ground with plenty of cut in France and has only had half a dozen starts to date. Fountains Chief has some appealing form figures but was beaten a long way on his latest start and more is needed here, whilst No No Tonic has been successful on his last two starts here and has to be respected despite an unappealing 11lb hike from the handicapper for his December success. Pyramid Place has yet to convince over this trip and Rockinastorm is hard to assess, as is High Game Royal, as both step into handicaps after showing ability in maiden and novice hurdles.

Formwatch

Le Patron (FR) 11-4fav (12-1) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, squeezed for room and went 2nd next, pushed along turning in, ridden and no extra between last two, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Thirtyfourstitches (11-13) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.

Fountains Chief 7-2 (11-10) Led, blundered 4 out and pushed along thereafter, weakened from 3 out, 3rd of 5, dist behind Jet Of Magic (11-7) at Hereford 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Nov.

No No Tonic 11-1 (11-8) Made all, some 5 lengths clear when pushed before 2 out, further clear when ridden before last, eased down late on, won at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec beating John Betjeman (11-13) by 8 1/2l, 16 ran.

Issam (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leader until ridden approaching 3 out, pulled up next, at Leicester 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.

Ballyellis (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, mistakes, lost place 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 12l behind Native Fighter (10-12) at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Aug.

Pyramid Place (IRE) 15-2 (10-11) Took keen hold, held up in last, ridden and headway to press leaders before 2 out, chased clear leader approaching last, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 6 1/2l behind Yorksea (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gs in Dec.

Starsky (IRE) 66-1 (11-6) In touch in rear, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 6, dist behind Sophosc (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.

High Game Royal (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Raced wide chasing leaders, hit 3 out, and lost place, rallied next, went modest 3rd run-in, 3rd of 12, 19l behind Holetown Hero (11-4) at Taunton 2m mdn (4) gd in Dec.

Super Duper Sam 9-1 (11-10) Waited with towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, 3rd and held when fell 2 out, at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.

Rockinastorm (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Mid-division, bad mistake and unseated rider 4 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 7f mdn (4) sft in Dec.

Toronto (IRE) 40-1 (11-13) Slowly away, in rear, ridden before 3 out, never a factor, 7th of 16, 27 3/4l behind No No Tonic (11-8) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.