Verdict

The hat-trick seeking SAMMY SPIDERMAN sets a decent standard here, and gets our vote ahead of Twilight Eagle and Rosie All Over. Alistair Whillans' gelding comes with a 7 pounds penalty, but still has weight in hand over all bar Treasured Memories. He's shown he can handle very testing conditions, but this does represent a step up in trip. The recent successes have both come at Ayr, and backers may remember that on his last appearance here he jinked when set to win and unseated his rider. Twilight Eagle is the least exposed, and Tony McCoy would just be one shy of the 3,000 winners milestone if steering him home first. A former Irish pointer, he was runner up in a better race than this over 3 miles on his chase debut, and is capable of handling the ground. Rosie All Over will stay all day in the mud. She is the top weight, but remains competitive with a 7 pounds claimer on board. She's won a couple of novice handicaps and was third last time out in a mares only contest. She looks the sort to relish a stamina test though. It's a competitive contest this, with our preference being for Sammy Spiderman.

Formwatch

Rosie All Over 6-4fav (11-4) Tracked winner, stayed until 11th, effort 3 out, one pace and lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 6, 6l behind More Likely (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 5f mrs hcp chs (3) hvy in Dec.

Twilight Eagle (IRE) 11-4 (11-1) In touch, hampered 13th, chased winner approaching 2 out, hard ridden and hung right between last 2, not fluent last, weakened flat, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Zacharova (10-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.

Double Intruder (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, hit 8th, headway 14th, mistake next and 16th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Deep Quest (10-11) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 14 ran.

Boris The Blade 11-1 (10-7) Prominent, lost place 6th, stayed on from 3 out, never nearer, 5th of 12, 13l behind Final Veto (10-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.

Innominate (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Led to 1st, led again after 3rd, headed 7th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Mr Big (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.

Supreme's Legacy (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Mid-division, chasing leaders 4 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 15, 7l behind Just Smudge (12-1) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.

Sammy Spiderman 15-8fav (10-4) Prominent, challenged on bit 4 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan beating Julius Caesar (11-12) by 3/4l, 7 ran.

Treasured Memories 9-1 (10-10) Towards rear, blundered 4th, soon detached, 6th of 9, well behind Sammy Spiderman (10-0) at Ayr 2m 5f nov hcp chs (4) hvy in Dec.