A wide-open affair with hardly a runner confidently ruled out. However, COLONIAL EMPIRE has really got his act together over hurdles the last twice, and although raised a stone for those successes still looks on a feasible mark for Tim Vaughan to work with. Trip and ground are fine. Rewired has struck up a good partnership with conditional Luke Scott and the combination should go well with the Newland team now back in better form. Inedit Star has performed well since joining Tom George from France and is respected along with the likes of Tibbie Dunbar - a possible improver - and Keepyourdreamsbig. However, the chief threats may emerge from the foot of the weights where the two four-year-olds, Mr Freedom and Jilaijone, should have plenty more to offer. They are preferred in that order.
River Bray (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Raced on inside, tracked leader who went clear before 2nd, closer at 4th, led on inside turning in, headed 3 out, weakened quickly, last of 10, dist behind Time Flies By (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Invincible Nao (FR) 28-1 (10-10) Raced keenly, chased leaders on inside, weakened after 3 out, 12th of 14, 37 1/4l behind No Ordinary Joe (11-8) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Amelia's Dance (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders out wide, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 9, 30 1/4l behind Midnight Ginger (11-9) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Inedit Star (FR) 9-4 (11-5) Raced keenly, led until 3 out, pressed winner and still every chance next, ridden and lost 2nd before the last, weakened run-in, 3rd of 15, 6 1/4l behind Altobelli (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Rewired 7-2 (12-2) Mid-division, headway to challenge 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on run-in but no match for winner, 2nd of 8, 8 1/2l behind Traprain Law (11-11) at Kelso 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Imac Wood (FR) 66-1 (12-0) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway 6th, weakened after next, pulled up before 3 out, at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Keepyourdreamsbig (FR) 10-3 (11-7) Close up in rear, closed 5 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd flat, 2nd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Ben Buie (10-7) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gd in Dec.
John Betjeman 22-1 (11-13) Tracked leaders, 3rd when pushed after 3 out, ridden entering home straight and went 2nd, no match for winner but kept on gamely, 2nd of 16, 8 1/2l behind No No Tonic (11-8) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Colonial Empire 6-4fav (12-0) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd after 4 out, led going well before 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec beating Weaver's Answer (10-8) by 6 1/2l, 14 ran.
Omega (GER) 25-1 (11-6) Always towards rear, made no impression, 5th of 7, 22 1/4l behind Yellowstone Park (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Tibbie Dunbar 10-1 (11-10) Led, ridden and joined 2 out, headed flat, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Love Actually (11-3) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Gingerbred 6-1 (11-2) Held up in last pair, smooth headway out wide tracking leaders when fell 3 out, at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Mr Freedom 8-1 (11-5) Held up off the pace in rear, outpaced when pushed along after 3 out, challenging for third when not fluent at final flight, kept on towards finish, went second close home, 2nd of 8, 7 1/2l behind El Muchacho (11-5) at Plumpton 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Jilaijone (FR) 10-3fav (11-7) Towards rear, headway 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, every chance when bad mistake and nearly unseated 2 out, kept on after last but no match for first 2, 3rd of 14, 9l behind Start In Front (11-0) at Wetherby 2m (4) sft in Dec.
