Verdict

MATCHO PIERJI is the selection with National Petition and Cave Hill as the alternatives. The selection has proved frustrating to follow but his yard seem to have been in better form recently and this appears to be the reason why Tony McCoy is at the track this afternoon. National Petition is very much in form but the handicapper now gets a crack at him having only had the ammunition of penalties previously. Cave Hill has ran two respectable races for Malcolm Jefferson since leaving Henrietta Knight so he cannot be readily discounted. Mage d'Estruval is proven on the surface though seems to be a Market Rasen specialist these days. Innominate is in first time cheekpieces. Lightly weighted Lago is likely to have plenty of local support but the handicapper has handed him a massive rise in the weights having made a mockery of a mark of 78 last time out. Fiftyfive Degrees has won previously with plenty of give in the ground and with Raymond Anderson Green a prolific winning owner at Carlisle, any move in the betting ring should not be ignored. Top Cloud appears best of the rest. Another competitive contest and we take a chance about Matcho Pierji.

Formwatch

Mage d'Estruval (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Led until after 1st, weakened from 4 out, 4th of 9, 30l behind Corlande (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.

Matcho Pierji (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Held up, in touch, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 9, 46l behind Tricky Trickster (11-5) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs (3) sft in Dec.

Cave Hill (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, led 7th, headed between last 2, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 6l behind Festival King (10-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.

Innominate (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (12-1) Always towards rear, blundered 4 out, 8th of 12, well behind Chigorin (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.

National Petition (IRE) 11-10fav (11-0) Held up, left in lead 3 out, ridden approaching last, kept on, won at Towcester 3m chs 0-90 (5) gs in Dec beating Ross Leader (11-0) by 13l, 9 ran.

Top Cloud (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Prominent, went 2nd approaching 9th, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 11, 14l behind Gidam Gidam (11-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.

Blaze Ahead (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, hit 2nd, ridden after 10th, weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Deep Quest (10-11) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 14 ran.

Fiftyfive Degrees (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, weakened after 5 out, 7th of 16, 29l behind Burnt Oak (10-12) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.

Nile Moon (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, 6th of 12, well behind North Island (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn chs (5) gs in Dec.

Supreme's Legacy (IRE) 11-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, reminders 2nd, jumped slowly afterwards, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Huckleberry (10-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 10 ran.

Lago 16-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, headway 10th, led and hit 2 out, soon clear, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec beating Herbie (10-13) by 10l, 9 ran.

Manoubi 15-2 (10-3) In touch, effort approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 4th of 7, 17l behind Royal Mackintosh (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.