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Warwick – Friday, February 26^th

BABY RUN – Top-class Hunter Chaser last year and a dream first-season ride for Sam Twiston-Davies. Started his campaign with a moderate second to Limerick Boy at Ludlow, but then did not look back; third in the Cheltenham Foxhunters (only gave way up the final hill), beat Man From Highworth at the same track shortly after, just touched off by Amicelli in a tactical affair at the same track, then capped his season by beating the cream of the crop (Cappa Bleu the only notable absentee) over 3m1f at Punchestown. Finished off his season with a creditable second to Southwestern at Stratford, and now starts his second season in this sphere as one of the leading fancies once again for the Festival. Tries his heart out, jumps well and testing ground is no problem – will be fit for this comeback and surely the one to beat.

BON ACCORD – Won six out of six from December ’06 to February ’08 and then went down all guns blazing to Amicelli in the Foxhunters, a fine effort on only his second outing under Rules. Went wrong when pulling up at the same course next time and forced to miss the whole of the 2009 season. Pin-fired in the meantime and returned to the track in quiet fashion at Barbury a couple of weeks ago, sauntering to victory in a minor Club Members event. Acts well on soft and interesting that connections are going for this race, given that the initial though was to go for another minor Point before a possible return to Cheltenham; gets a handy 5lbs from Baby Run, and it should be a fascinating battle.

BUCKBY LANE – Lightly raced but very classy under Rules, notably winning a valuable 2m5f event at Cheltenham in January ’05. Has shown flashes of form in Points, notably defeating Amicelli in ’08, but showed definite signs of feeling his age in ’09. Looked a certainty to be retired, but reappeared again this term and produced a heroic effort at Thorpe a couple of weeks ago when he went down to Farmer Frank by less than a length. Great to see him enjoying his racing but isn’t the force of old, and would need something to happen to the top two in order for him to have any chance.

FIFTY YEARSON – Unreliable sort but ended his ’09 campaign on a high note, and seemingly produced a career best when winning a novice riders’ event at Barbury on his comeback. This was achieved in a time five seconds faster than the race that Bon Accord won on the same card, but little should be read into that as the latter’s race was run at a noticeably slow pace. Well held although not disgraced on his sole previous outing in a Hunter Chase, and with ground conditions seemingly against him here is fairly easy to oppose.

HERE’S JOHNNY – Rated 140 after finishing second to Joe Lively in the Feltham at Kempton in December 2007, but pulled up when favourite at Newbury next time and disappeared after finishing down the field in the four-miler at the Festival. Returned from a massive layoff to finish a running-on second to Blu Teen at Sandown. Step up in trip will suit and a leading contender on his old form, but still questionable as to whether he is still able to produce it.

NOTANOTHERDONKEY – Infrequent winner for the Scudamores under Rules, with his best performance coming off 103 at Wetherby. Beaten 25L+ on his comeback at Marks Tey and not necessarily going to be suited by a slog in the mud here.

ORANGER – Frustrating sort who played his part in an astonishing finish at Cheltenham last May, but generally easy to beat at this level and could only finish five lengths second in a Whitfield Restricted on his comeback – albeit in the fastest of eleven (!) races on the card.

Conclusion – A fascinating battle between two of the classiest Hunter Chasers in training; Baby Run is the one to beat on his performances from last year but Bon Accord must be in fine form for connections to be considering this contest just two starts into his comeback. There is virtually nothing in it at adjusted weights and Bon Accord may well be the value selection, but I would prefer to just watch and enjoy.