Verdict

Dica hasn't been out of a place in his last nine starts over fences, winning three of his last four. He looked like winning easily at Sedgefield on Boxing Day but started hanging on the run-in and only just held on. MIDDLEBROW won over this course and distance in December and a furlong further at Musselburgh last time. He's capable of further progress and looks the one to be on. Chain Of Beacons' latest success at Kelso in November was gained on good ground so he'll find conditions very different here but Special Wells is back to his winning mark of a year ago, though he's been running poorly.

Formwatch

Dica (FR) 15-2 (11-10) Made all, clear before last, got very tired run-in, just held on, won at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Whitsundays (11-7) by shd, 7 ran.

Middlebrow (IRE) 11-4 (10-13) Jumped left, in touch on outside, went 2nd and jumped badly left from 4 out, led 3 out, driven clear flat, kept on, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Jan beating Martiloo (10-13) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.

Special Wells 9-1 (11-11) Led early, tracked leaders, slow 2nd, outpaced after 8th, well beaten before 4 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Granville Island (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.

Chain Of Beacons 9-2 (10-7) Held up in touch, headway to track front pair before 4 out, went 2nd after 2 out, challenged last, ridden to lead flat, kept on, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Welcome Ben (10-6) by 1l, 8 ran.