Verdict

Gordon Elliott sent Hermann Clermont to land two handicaps at Perth last summer and he'll be having his first start in a hunters' chase. Tom Cody has won five of his last seven between the flags though ran moderately in the race won by The Whistle Blower at Brocklesby Park last month and could do with some rain. The winner completed a point-to-point hat-trick at this time a year ago while Ex S'elance, a very moderate hurdler, has found his form between the flags completing a double last month. Matts Commission is a 10-times winning point-to-pointer and has been placed in maiden hunter-chases but TIME LEADER scored comfortably in a similar race to this at Leicester so gets the nod.

Formwatch

Hermann Clermont (FR) 7-2 (10-9) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, hit 9th, not fluent 11th, mistake 4 out, outpaced and struggling when slipped up and fell on bend before 3 out, at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.

Time Leader (IRE) 15-8fav (12-0) Close up, tracked leader 5 out, led 3 out, driven clear flat, won at Leicester 2m 7f (5) gd in Feb beating Santon (12-0) by 7 1/2l, 8 ran.

Ex S'elance (FR) 16-1 (12-0) (cp) hdwy aft 8; led last; r.o wl, won at Friars Haugh 2m 4f gd in Feb beating Garbanzo (12-0) by 4l, 8 ran.

Matts Commission (IRE) 7-4 (12-0) (tt) prom til outpcd aft 15; blun nxt; nt rec; virt pu flat, 3rd of 6, 32 1/4l behind Diable De Sivola (12-3) at Alnwick 3m gs in Jan.

The Whistle Blower (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) (cp) (tt) made all; just held on, won at Brocklesby Park 3m gd in Feb beating How To Get Away (12-3) by hd, 7 ran.

Tom Cody (IRE) 7-4 (12-3) (tt) held up last to 7; hdwy 10; lost plce 15; nt rec, 6th of 7, 8 1/4l behind The Whistle Blower (12-0) at Brocklesby Park 3m gd in Feb.