Verdict

Nafaath was third in the Ascot Stakes in June but his recent form over hurdles is woeful. Award Winner won at Wincanton and Fontwell, beating Inner Steel on the latter occasion, in October but was tailed off from his new mark at Taunton last time while Who Owns Me showed very little on his return at Plumpton when behind PROMISED WINGS. Chris Gordon's gelding won over a shorter trip here a year ago and may be poised for a return to winning ways as Finnegan Paddy and Tothemoonandback have become disappointing and Dom Lukka failed to pick up at Sedgefield last month.

Formwatch

Nafaath (IRE) 66-1 (11-3) Never better than mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 17th of 21, well behind Buck Magic (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.

Who Owns Me (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, some headway 3 out, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 50l behind Madame Jasmine (10-8) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Oct.

Promised Wings (GER) 20-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, jumped right and not fluent 8th, given reminder and lost place, mistake and weakened 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 13, 38l behind Pete The Feat (11-12) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.

Finnegan Paddy (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) With leaders, ridden and weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Duke Of Monmouth (10-5) at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov, 10 ran.

Award Winner 8-1 (11-8) Not fluent 1st, soon in mid-division, ridden and went 4th 4 out, weakened and eased before 2 out, tailed off, 12th of 16, well behind Cinevator (11-7) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.

Inner Steel (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, challenged last, not quicken, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Overlay (10-4) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.

Dom Lukka (FR) 13-2 (10-11) Led until after 1st, tracked winner, challenged 6th, hit next, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, 4th of 6, 13l behind Star In Flight (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.

Tothemoonandback (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd on outer, pushed along and in rear before 4 out, soon tailed off, last of 6, 25l behind Billy Merriott (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.