/ Timeform / 11 February 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Soldatino: Can the Triumph winner add another valuable prize to his portfolio?
"French import Solix was heavily backed ante-post, but a mark of 152 surely leaves him up against it and stablemate Soldatino makes greater appeal after a promising first run of the season at Ascot."
Timeform go through the field for the season's most valuable handicap hurdle...
Solix boasts smart form in France for Guy Cherel, landing a 19f Grade 3 at Auteuil in October. He ran creditably in a Grade 1 next time and has been the subject of strong support for this, but seemingly has plenty on at the weights.
Salden Licht took very well to hurdling last season. He has since proved himself better than ever on the Flat, and continued his progress in this sphere with an authoritative win at Exeter last month. There is plenty more to come from him yet.
Ronaldo des Mottes's only two flops have been at Cheltenham, and there was nothing wrong with his effort in this race last year when finding only Get Me Out of Here too good. A 10-month absence is no real concern but he is 9 lb higher this time.
Get Me Out of Here made tremendous progress last season, completing a 5-timer in this race prior to finding only Menorah too good in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. He has made a low-key start to this campaign though, and the assessor is not relenting.
Nearby was one of the most progressive handicap hurdlers of last year, completing a quick-fire hat-trick in the autumn. He is better than his run in a Grade 1 over C&D last time suggests, but has probably done his winning for now.
Walkon lost just twice during a fine 2008/9 campaign, winning a Grade 1 at Aintree on his final start. He suffered a tendon injury after, but all his ability remains intact judged on his first run back at Ascot and he looks well treated.
Soldatino burst onto the scene in no uncertain manner last season, completing a hat-trick in the Triumph at the Festival. He shaped much better than the bare result behind Walkon on his return (weak in betting) and will be spot on now.
Eradticate is very useful on the Flat and over hurdles, winning the valuable Swinton Hurdle at Haydock in May. Hen had o real excuses off this mark at Cheltenham last month though, and his trainer saddles more interesting runners.
Notus de la Tour is an Ex-French gelding whose second in last season's Fred Winter turned out to be strong form. He shaped encouragingly at Ascot behind a couple of these on reappearance last month, and the return to is 2m no bad thing.
The Betchworth Kid is just as good over hurdles as on the Flat, running his best race so far over timber when fourth to Tocca Ferro in the Gerry Feilden over C&D in November. He was let down by his jumping last time though, and should be suited by further.
Final Approach showed no signs of inexperience when landing a valuable 2m handicap at Leopardstown on just his fourth start over hurdles. He is in excellent hands and has more improvement to come, so is not one to dismiss lightly.
Bothy is useful on the Flat and took well to hurdling last season, winning three times. He made further progress when runner-up to Menorah in the Greatwood Hurdle, and his chance would be enhanced by rain.
Palomar is a free-going sort who has got his act together since joining his current yard, winning on the Flat, in a Market Rasen handicap and a jumpers' bumper. He was a really good third at Kempton last time, but is still higher in weights here.
Zanir won at Leicester in 2009/10 and has usually run creditably since, including when fourth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, but is no battler and this is ultra competitive.
Recession Proof is useful on the Flat and is already of similar merit over hurdles after just three runs, winning twice. He was also successful also in a jumpers' bumper when last seen in December, but this a totally different test.
Tiger O'Toole produced easily a career-best when beating Walkon (as well as a handful of others in this race) at Ascot last month. Things rather fell apart around him there though and a few can be expected to reverse the form.
Tarkari won three times for Willie Mullins in 2009/10, and has been a rare improver for leaving his stable, running as well as could be expected in the Welsh Champion Hurdle last week. He is not necessarily handicapped out of things.
Sweet My Lord boasts a similar profile to stablemate Final Approach in that he's still lightly raced over hurdles, successful on two of three completed starts. There must be a good chance there's more to come in handicaps.
Washington Irving is a one-time smart Flat performer who shaped better than the result in a 2½m Aintree handicap on his reappearance in November, when not given hard time. This an altogether more demanding task, however.
Iolith is an ex-German gelding who ran to a useful level on the Flat, winning three times. He has been suited by a test of speed when winning twice in novice hurdles, and seems sure to leave that bare form behind in handicaps.
Drill Sergeant is useful on the Flat (stays 2m) and has won two of his five starts over hurdles, despite signs of temperament. He shaped better than the bare result in a good handicap last time, and drops back in trip.
Rebel Dancer was a Flat winner in France and his career is now taking off over hurdles, winning on debut for his current yard at Huntingdon in August. He was an excellent second over C&D in November, and is just 2 lb higher this time.
Sircozy made a winning start to his hurdling career and has showed better form in defeat since, but was let down by jumping in ordinary handicap last month, and it's hard to see him taking a hand from out the weights.
Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Soldatino
2. Walkon
3. Salden Licht
Timeform View: French import Solix was heavily backed ante-post, but a mark of 152 surely leaves him up against it and stablemate Soldatino makes greater appeal after a promising first run of the season at Ascot. The Alan King-pair Walkon and Salden Licht are other notable contenders, with Bothy looking the pick of those at longer odds, especially if conditions deteriorate.
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