Verdict

This is always a real slog but it favours up-and-coming chasers with none of the last 11 winners being aged older than eight. Vicente won the Scottish Grand National in April and ran a cracker on his reappearance at Cheltenham. Rock The Kasbah has won here three times and been second twice so has to go on the short-list. Chase The Spud’s Haydock victory has already been franked and he beat MYSTEREE, Houblon Des Obeaux and Final Nudge in last season’s Midlands National. But Michael Scudamore’s charge is now 10lb better off for a length-and-a-half defeat and, as he goes well fresh and like the mud, Robbie Dunne’s mount could be some value in this even though a nine-year-old. Despite a slipping saddle, Beware The Bear rallied strongly to beat Bishops Road in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle and looks a stayer to follow while Wild West Wind never seems to run a bad race. Ask The Weatherman won nine of 10 races between the flags and has only been beaten once under Rules but Vintage Clouds is looking a few pounds too high.

Formwatch

Vicente (FR) 9-2 (10-10) Mid-division, tracked leaders from 5th, went 2nd before 2 out, 2 lengths down when mistake and lost ground last, ridden and stayed on well flat, gaining near finish, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Perfect Candidate (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.

Rock The Kasbah (IRE) 2-1fav (10-8) Chased leaders on inside, not fluent 9th, rallied on inside chasing leaders 5 out, led narrowly 2 out, driven out, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Oct beating Petrou (10-0) by 2l, 13 ran.

Beware The Bear (IRE) 11-4fav (11-7) In touch, pushed along and outpaced 7 out, ridden before 3 out, headway before 2 out, led run-in, kept on, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Dec beating Bishops Road (11-6) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.

Chase The Spud 6-1 (11-7) Led after 1st, headed next, with leader, led again 13th, pressed 3 out, drew clear from next, kept on well, won at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Nov beating Robinsfirth (11-10) by 6l, 8 ran.

Silsol (GER) 25-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, pushed along 7th, lost place 4 out, soon behind, tailed off, 13th of 16, dist behind Sam Spinner (10-9) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (1) hvy in Nov.

Final Nudge (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, soon every chance, hard ridden closing stages, all out, just failed, 2nd of 16, hd behind Present Man (11-0) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.

Pobbles Bay (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) In rear, mistake 4th, struggling 10th, behind from 12th, 9th of 12, 23l behind On Tour (10-11) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.

Bishops Road (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, led before 2 out, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Beware The Bear (11-7) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Dec.

Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, hard ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 10, 8 3/4l behind Benbens (10-13) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.

Wild West Wind (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 10 out, going well when left clear from 4 out, held on well towards finish, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Alfie Spinner (10-10) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.

Raz De Maree (FR) 15-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, left 2nd after last, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 9l behind Red Rising (10-11) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.

Vintage Clouds (IRE) 3-1jfav (11-1) Led or disputed lead to 8th, tracked leaders, driven to challenge 4 out, soon led and ridden, headed 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner from last, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Clan Des Obeaux (11-8) at Haydock 2m 6f (2) hvy in Nov.

Splash of Ginge 11-1 (10-10) Led until after 1st, chased leaders, pushed along 12th, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 10, 20 3/4l behind Guitar Pete (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.

Ask The Weatherman 10-3 (12-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 12th, effort 4 out, led after next, ridden between last 2, hard pressed flat, stayed on towards finish, won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Castarnie (11-4) by 3/4l, 10 ran.

Mysteree (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 20th, soon not clear run briefly, led 3 out, pressed flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 20, 1 1/2l behind Chase The Spud (10-12) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.

Sir Mangan (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) In touch, headway 6 out, chased leaders next, led 2 out, soon hard ridden and edged right, all out, won at Bangor 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Actinpieces (11-7) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.

O'Faolains Boy (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Soon chased leaders, 5th from 6th, pushed along after 5 out, still 5th before straight, one pace 2 out, 6th of 13, 13 1/2l behind Sizing Codelco (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.

Folsom Blue (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden in 5th 3 out, 4th next, kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 13, 5 3/4l behind Red Devil Lads (11-5) at Navan 2m 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.

Buckhorn Timothy 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, lost briefly before last, left in lead last, kept on well, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Winning Spark (11-1) by 1/2l, 8 ran.

Milansbar (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, reminders before 11 out, pushed along 8 out, kept on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Wild West Wind (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.