WEST END ROCKER is the form pick to win this novice chase with Theatre Dance and Carnival Town worth noting. The selection was a fair hurdler gaining his sole success at Chepstow last season. He has run two decent races over fences this season finishing third to Ballfitz in a competitive novice event at Cheltenham last time out. He has no penalty to carry and is favoured to get his head in front this time around. Carnival Town put a handful of disappointing events behind him to land his first novice chase at Chepstow last time out. Life with his penalty will make life tougher from now on but his trainer is in fine form at present so any market moves should be noted. Theatre Dance ran well in behind Kornati Kid at Exeter last time out. He is still only lightly raced so is open to further improvement and is sure to be in the shake if he can recapture his best form. However for the winner we return to West End Rocker.
Carnival Town 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leader from 3rd, hung badly right towards stables after 11th, led 15th, headed 17th, led again 3 out, idled flat, won at Chepstow 3m 2f beg chs (4) hvy in Jan beating Tank Top (11-0) by 14l, 8 ran.
Best Actor (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Led, headed 5th, remained handy, ridden 3 out, driven and weakened from next, 8th of 15, 31l behind Fair Along (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (1) sft in Nov.
Bronte Bay (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Mid-division, ridden in 8th 3 out, no extra approaching 2 out, kept on one pace, 11th of 28, 43l behind Wheresben (10-7) at Leopardstown 3m hcp chs sft in Dec.
Johnny Harris (IRE) 250-1 (10-7) In touch, reminders and lost place 7th, soon behind, 13th of 16, well behind Sa Suffit (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs in Jan.
Theatre Dance (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 12th, ridden after 13th, stayed on to go 2nd from after 14th, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Kornati Kid (11-0) at Exeter 3m beg chs (3) sft in Dec.
West End Rocker (IRE) 11-4 (10-13) Tracked leaders, reminder after 9th, close 3rd when stumbled badly 3 out, soon ridden, held from next, challenged for 2nd run in but no chance with winner, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Ballyfitz (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) sft in Nov.
