Verdict

Last year’s winner Santini and Native River were both making their seasonal reappearance when beaten by Lake View Lad at Aintree. The pair are 6lb better off with the winner and proven here so should turn the tables. Santini has since only finished fifth in the King George at Kempton, a place behind Saint Calvados, though the latter may find a longer trip on this stiffer track beyond him. Yala Enki stays further but had a hard race at Taunton last week. BRISTOL DE MAI was beaten by Santini in this 12 months ago and the argument can be made that he is best at Haydock but the three times Betfair Chase winner will have his ground today and could take some catching if allowed to dominate. The Conditional steps out of handicaps but is tough and 2-2 here so could outrun bigger odds. He makes more appeal than Yorkhill, who won the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle at 66/1 but is taking on some top staying chasers here and also engaged at Doncaster.

Formwatch

Bristol De Mai (FR) 9-4 (11-7) Made most, disputed lead early stages, led 7th, upped tempo 4 out, pressed 3 out, ridden after 2 out and found plenty to go 2-lengths clear last, kept on gamely run-in, won at Haydock 3m 2f (1) hvy in Nov beating Clan Des Obeaux (11-7) by 2l, 5 ran.

Lake View Lad (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on inside, blundered and ridden 3 out (normal 6 out) rallied into 2nd bypassing omitted 3 out, led bypassing next, soon strongly pressed, stayed on to assert final 110 yards, won at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Dec beating Santini (11-6) by 1l, 5 ran.

Native River (IRE) 9-4 (11-6) Tracked leader, led 3rd until ridden bypassing omitted 2 out, lost 2nd before bypassing omitted last, kept on in 3rd, 3rd of 5, 3l behind Lake View Lad (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Dec.

Santini 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, tracked winner 2nd until mistake 4 out, weakened before 2 out,, 5th of 9, 10l behind Frodon (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.

The Conditional (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Chased leaders on inside, mistake 10th and lost place briefly, went 2nd after 2 out (normal 3 out) joined winner on extended run-in, no extra bypassing omitted last, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Mister Malarky (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.

Yorkhill (IRE) 66-1 (10-10) Prominent, led 4th, ridden and joined 3 out, ran on gamely, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov beating Whatmore (10-10) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.

Saint Calvados (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 7th, went 2nd 4 out, pushed along before next, held when went left 2 out, went left and lost 2nd at the last, lost modest 3rd final strides, 4th of 9, 8 1/2l behind Frodon (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.

Yala Enki (FR) 8-13fav (11-0) Brushed 1st, led and raced with plenty of enthusiasm, blundered and headed 4 out, chased leader and rallied 3 out, challenged next, led between last 2, in command last, driven clear run-in, won at Taunton 3m 4f (2) sft in Jan beating If The Cap Fits (11-0) by 5l, 6 ran.