not always fluent, hit 1st, held up last, driven into modest 4th 3 out, went 3rd flat
tracked leading pair, lost 3rd at 10th, ridden and struggling when hit next, tailed off
led to 5th, chased leader, challenged and hit 11th, led 12th to 3 out, chased leader to next, weakened soon after, lost 3rd flat
took keen hold, held up in 4th, headway into 3rd at 10th, challenged on inner 2 out, led approaching last, drew clear flat
tracked leader, led 5th, stumbled on landing 9th, headed 12th, regained lead next, ridden and headed when not fluent last, no extra flat
VODKA BROOK is our call in this valuable race with No Panic and Iroquois Warrior as the alternatives. The six-year-old always showed promise over hurdles though never quite achieved all that he perhaps should have done on balance. Capable of acting with plenty of give underfoot, he has gone well fresh in the past and could be an exciting recruit. Peter Bowen's team have been amongst the winners of late so No Panic has to be respected. This smaller field size might play to his strengths as he has front run in the past. Iroquois Warrior was an out and out stayer over hurdles. This trip might be on the sharp side despite Paul Nicholls' novices running well at the moment. Pocket Aces looked a likely winner at Fontwell before capsizing at the last. Approved Force should have come on for his recent experience at Ascot. Vodka Brook appears the best option in a race where cases can be made for many.
Approved Force (USA) 20-1 (11-3) Held up, stayed on into moderate 4th, last, but never any chance, 4th of 7, 14l behind French Opera (11-3) at Ascot 2m 3f beg chs (3) gd in Oct.
Iroquois Warrior (IRE) 4-1fav (10-11) In touch, spedded into mid-division 2nd, well beaten before 3f out, 11th of 14, 20l behind Templer (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gf in Oct.
No Panic (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Not always fluent, pressed leader, lost 2nd before 4 out, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened, left 2nd last, 2nd of 6, 29l behind Busker Royal (11-2) at Fakenham 2m 5f noc chs (3) gf in Oct.
Pocket Aces (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Held up, chased leaders approaching 6th, led 2 out, 3 lengths up and going well when fell last, in a race won by Calusa Caldera (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct, 7 ran.
Vodka Brook (IRE) 10-11fav (11-8) Held up, headway after 8th, challenged 3 out until 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Thedeboftheyear (10-5) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
