Verdict

Mr Dealer is 0-12 but Ewood Park has been lightly raced and has form at the track. Watergrange Jack won at Ffos Las in June while Gavroche D'allier has been steadily improving. Fearless Action was second at Sedgefield and Newcastle at the end of last year but MAILLOT BLANC is the one to beat if his third under Roisin Leech at Hexham is taken at face value.

Formwatch

Watergrange Jack (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Towards rear, ridden before 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 10th of 11, 26 1/2l behind Djelo (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.

Ewood Park (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, not fluent 3 out, pushed along and weakened before 2 out, 4th of 5, 24 1/2l behind Blenkinsop (11-3) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.

Fearless Action (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, headway 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 13, 34l behind Silver Flyer (11-7) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Dec.

Mr Dealer (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Off the pace in last pair, headway out wide after 4 out, chased leaders before next, ridden and hung left before 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 18l behind Miss Milano (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Oct.

Maillot Blanc 33-1 (11-9) Mid-division, driven and headway 2 out, every chance last, kept on, 3rd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Lewa House (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Nov.

Gavroche D'allier (FR) 100-1 (11-0) In touch in 5th, pushed along after 3 out, no impression, 5th of 10, 23 1/2l behind Blow Your Wad (11-0) at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Nov.