Verdict

Not a bad beginners' chase for a Monday and Bedlam Boy's form with Tidal Bay marks him out as the one to be on here, with Open De L'Isle perhaps the big danger. Bedlam Boy was last seen finishing around 12 lengths adrift of Tidal Bay at Aintree in April, and comes here for his chase debut. His conqueror that day looked very good at Cheltenham on Saturday, and if Nicky Richards' charge can run to anything like his own hurdles mark here then he also looks like a very useful sort to go chasing wih this winter. Open De L'Isle would prefer the ground to be bottomless but he does act on good to soft and showed he was getting the hang of chasing at kelso last time, so he is respected. Torkinking is a more than useful hurdler who went well when just outpointed by 128 rated Lankawi on his Hexham chse debut in the spring, and he should not be far away. Zibeline looks as though he needs to improve a fair bit to trouble our selection Bedlam Boy.

Formwatch

Bedlam Boy (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Held up, headway on inside after 5th, disputed 2nd 3 out, ridden and switched left before 2 out, 3rd and beaten when not fluent last, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Tidal Bay (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.

Hush Tiger 40-1 (10-10) In touch, pushed along 3 out, ridden and one pace from next, 4th of 14, 6l behind Augustine (11-1) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.

Monolith 40-1 (10-3) Held up mid-division, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 18, 37l behind Millenium Royal (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.

Open de L'Isle (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Raced keenly in touch, left in lead 2nd, headed next, left in lead again 6th, headed 2 out, ridden and rallied flat, just held, 2nd of 6, shd behind Water Taxi (11-0) at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.

Stand On Me 20-1 (10-8) Held up, headway when fell 4 out in race won by Roschal (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy, 8 ran.

Torkinking (IRE) 200-1 (11-7) With leader, led 4th, headed 4 out, weakened next, 7th of 8, 41l behind Harchibald (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs.

Zibeline (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) fell in race won by Naples (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chs gd in Nov, 12 ran.