Veteran Nudge And Nurdle has a chance at the weights here and probably need the run when tailed off at Fontwell last month. Waltzing Tornado won at Ffos Las two runs ago but was below par at Chepstow subsequently while Whispering Jack appears to have gone off the boil since landing a double at Wincanton and Kempton. Sadler's Star also looks a shade high in the weights at present, though was second off this mark at Huntingdon in the autumn. IONA DAYS usually comes good at this time of year and is only a pound higher than when scoring over a similar trip at Market Rasen last summer. He wears a visor for the first time here and must be thereabouts as Mabel Tasman hasn't been seen since winning at Taunton in November.
Strongbows Legend 12-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, ridden and struggling after 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by No Loose Change (11-8) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd, 10 ran.
Sadler's Star (GER) 11-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division on outer, soon chased leaders, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 35l behind Velator (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
El Lobo (FR) 9-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, chased leaders in 3rd when fell 4 out, in a race won by Milans Well (10-13) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 7 ran.
Whispering Jack 12-1 (10-8) Jumped left, raced wide in mid-division, ridden and struggling before 12th, plugged on but never any chance, 6th of 10, 23l behind No Loose Change (11-8) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Nudge And Nurdle (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden and struggling after 13th, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Wild Ground (10-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Handsome Buddy (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Blundered 1st, chased leaders in 4th, lost place 6th, soon behind, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Red Courtier (11-0) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Waltzing Tornado (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, effort 13th, no extra 5 out, 6th of 13, 26l behind Loughalder (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Francis Du Mesnil (FR) 25-1 (10-1) In rear, steady headway approaching 11th, well held when bumped 3 out, beaten when went left next, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Speedy Bruere (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Mar.
Iona Days (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway after 8th, reminder after 12th, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 12, 27l behind King Jack (10-13) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
Mabel Tasman 9-1 (10-10) In rear, headway before 10th, went 3rd before 3 out, ridden to lead last, kept on well, won at Taunton 2m 7f beg chs (4) gd in Nov beating Shockingtimes (11-3) by 3l, 7 ran.
