Verdict

BUCK THE LEGEND is the selection with Hold Em and Naiad Du Misselot likely to give him plenty to think about. The selection is actually much better treated here than if this race were a handicap. As a three miler over hurdles, this trip really should not be a problem and with two recent victories in the bag, confidence should be high. Hold Em hails from unfashionable connections but he has done very little wrong in his career. He probably didn't stay three miles at Newbury so the drop in trip seems wise. Naiad Du Misselot was outpaced at Kelso over the extended two miles and today's trip looks the ticket for the Coral Cup winner. Rodrigo Gonzales needs to bounce back from a below par run at Hexham. Katess is in receipt of the mare's allowance but should not be good enough. Slash and Burn ran a career best to chase home Massini's Maguire at Ascot and has place claims again. Buck The Legend gets the nod.

Formwatch

Buck The Legend (IRE) 7-4fav (11-11) Chased clear leader, closed after 8th, hit 10th, led approaching 11th, clear 2 out, stayed on strongly, eased run-in, won at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov beating Kilcrea Asla (11-7) by 13l, 9 ran.

Hold Em (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Chased leader until 7th, stayed in close 3rd, hit 14th, driven and one pace approaching last, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Gone To Lunch (11-6) at Newbury 3m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov.

Kildonnan 10-1 (11-1) Held up, went 3rd when hit 6th, soon pushed along, weakening when mistake 7th, no chance when mistake 2 out, 5th of 6, 38l behind Tino Tino (9-11) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.

Naiad du Misselot (FR) 8-11fav (11-0) Held up, blundered 7th, headway 8th, soon chasing leaders, stayed on from last, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Palomar (11-0) at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.

Rodrigo Gonzales (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) In touch, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 6, well behind According To Pete (11-4) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (3) hvy in Nov.

Slash And Burn (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Jumped left at some fences, led to 6th, chased winner to 9th, stayed in touch, headway to track leaders 4 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Massini's Maguire (11-1) at Ascot 2m 5f beg c.

Katess (IRE) 13-8fav (11-6) Chased leader, led 7th, quickened 4 out, ridden 3 out, 2 lengths up when blundered 2 out, headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Romping Home (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f mrs nov chs (4) gs in Nov.