This could go the way of TRABOLGAN following a great reappearance run last month. Now 12 years of age, Nicky Henderson's charge is perhaps in the twilight of a career ravaged by serious injury. However his fourth to The Package was a step in the right direction and he looks very competitively handicapped at present. Oscar Bay might rate as a danger if back on song, but Timmy Murphy doesn't have a great record on the gelding, so a bigger threat may be recent winners Ballyfoy and Temoin who are evidently in good heart. Any market move for Snakebite should be heeded as the stable landed a touch with Pontiff at Warwick after a layoff, although to come back and win from 1078 days off the track would be some achievement. Noakarad De Verzee is a strong stayer and Richard Johnson looks a great jockey booking, Officier De Reserve could be well handicapped if getting it all together, whilst Oscar Bay looks high enough in the weights and may struggle anyway on the ground. A very open-looking handicap, but Trabolgan can roll back the years.
Oscar Bay (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) In rear, not fluent when slightly hampered 4th, went poor 6th before 4 out, never dangerous, 5th of 14, 47l behind Le Beau Bai (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Trabolgan (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, headway 16th, blundered 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out until blundered and weakened last, 4th of 12, 15l behind The Package (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) sft in Dec.
Officier De Reserve (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, reminder after 7th, not fluent 10th, mistake and losing touch 19th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Russian Trigger (10-9) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) sft in Mar, 15 ran.
The Vicar (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, mistake 10th, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 11, 33l behind Shining Gale (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Oscar Park (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, weakened 3 out, 9th of 16, well behind Diamond Harry (11-12) at Haydock 3m 1f listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Nov.
Any Currency (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden 12th, hit 14th and dropped to rear, blundered 4 out, still plenty to do next, good headway on inside before 2 out, kept on well into 3rd after last, 3rd of 12, 7l behind The Package (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) sft in Dec.
Golden Flight (FR) 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway and in touch 8th, hit next, outpaced 5 out, weakened from next, 10th of 14, 49l behind Beat The Boys (10-12) at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Palypso De Creek (FR) 17-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, jumped slow 3rd, took closer order 7th, ridden after 2 out, one pace from last, 4th of 8, 11l behind Vic Venturi (11-12) at Aintree 3m 2f list hcp ch (1) sft in Nov.
Ballyfoy (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, briefly outpaced 9th, headway to lead 11th, headed 13th, driven along 5 out, every chance from 3 out, stayed on to lead flat, driven out, won at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec beating Pipo De Re (10-7) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Soleil Fix (FR) 100-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, blundered 4th, close up 3rd when not much room, ran out 15th, in a race won by Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec, 16 ran.
Temoin 40-1 (11-12) Always prominent, slow 1st, led 3 out, soon hard driven, stayed on strongly (no time taken), won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec beating Noakarad De Verzee (11-0) by 1l, 6 ran.
Snakebite (IRE) 11-4fav (10-4) Chased leader until after 2 out, weakened after last, 5th of 9, 28l behind The Outlier (10-3) at Haydock 3m hcp chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan '07.
Noakarad De Verzee (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, not fluent 8th, soon lost place and in touch, chased winner after last, kept on well, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Temoin (11-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
