Verdict

Donald McCain has given Eighteen Carat time to recover from the hard race he had when beating Sunarri over 2m4f at Aintree where he was staying on stoutly at the finish. This trip should hold no terrors, though the penalty incurred may hand the advantage to SEREN ROUGE. Keith Reveley's charge is bred to be a stayer so his victory in a Carlisle bumper was a bonus. He was going on strongly at the finish over 2m4f there in October and looks the type to do better. Whispering Death won five times on the Flat and has come close on a couple of occasions over timber though he finished tailed off on his latest start on the level at Ayr in October and may be best watched for now. The Ferbane Man is extremely versatile having won between the flags, over fences and timber but may be better over the bigger obstacles nowadays.

Formwatch

Eighteen Carat (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, blundered 7th, effort stands' side 3 out, soon ridden, challenged next, led narrowly last, stayed on towards finish, won at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Nov beating Sunarri (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.

The Ferbane Man (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, under pressure 16th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 14, 38l behind Minella Boys (11-4) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.

Comeththehour (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 16, 13l behind Torta Nel Cielo (10-9) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.

Master Conor (IRE) 150-1 (11-6) Towards rear, ridden and weakened after 6th, soon tailed off, last of 14, well behind Jack The Gent (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd.

Moufatango (FR) 50-1 (11-2) Mid-division, mistake 7th, blundered 4 out, soon weakened, 13th of 16, 34l behind Lively Baron (11-8) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs.

Paul Revere (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear and keen on inside, weakened approaching 3 out, 11th of 16, 30l behind Torta Nel Cielo (10-9) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.

Plutonium (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) In rear, tailed off from 2nd, pulled up 4th, in a race won by Danceintothelight (11-0) at Catterick 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs, 15 ran.

Seren Rouge 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 17, 15l behind Yurok (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.

Simhal 200-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along and weakened from 5th, pulled up before 7th, tailed off, in a race won by Majestic Mayhem (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Jun, 9 ran.

Twigg Echoes (IRE) Milan gelding out of Echoes Of Erin.

Whispering Death 9-4 (11-0) Held up, chased winner 2 out, shaken up approaching last, no extra, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Manor Park (11-0) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Oct '09.

Lady Chorister 200-1 (10-11) Always behind, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Fentara (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) sft, 15 ran.