Verdict

BEDLAM BOY could take all the beating and can prove too strong for Double Vodka and Soulard. Ferdy Murphy has his string in great form at present and Bedlam Boy looks very fairly treated on a mark of 130 for his first run in a handicap chase given that he finished a close third from a 2lb higher mark in a competitive hurdle at Aintree in the spring. He may not have beaten a great deal this season but he beat them well and finally looks capable of going some way to fulfilling his undoubted potential. There was a concern that Double Vodka may have found the ground too soft at Catterick but he jumped beautifully and battled on gamely to win a fair contest. The handicapper has given him every chance and he should be ideally suited by the demands of this test as long as the ground doesn't become too testing. Soulard shaped with promise on debut for Tom George when possibly in need of the run; the trainer has only had a handful of runners since the turn of the year and the market may be the best guide to his chances given that the stable jockey rides Kilcrea Asla who has jumping issues to address. Battlecry is thrown in on his old form but has work to do in order to get back to that level and a greater danger may be the progressive Green Belt Elite whose win at Wincanton has been franked by the runner-up. Heathcote ran a big race in a similar contest last time and enters the equation on that run whilst Fit To Drive, Nikos Extra and Prince Taime all have realistic claims too but we reckon that Bedlam Boy could run amok.

Formwatch

Donaldson (GER) 40-1 (11-12) Not fluent, mid-division, mistake 11th, struggling next, tailed off, 8th of 12, dis behind Fistral Beach (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.

Battlecry 10-1 (11-6) Led, headed approaching 8th, led 6 out, left clear 5 out, headed approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 11l behind Watch My Back (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec.

Green Belt Elite (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Chased leader, blundered 7th, led after 9th, clear when hampered by loose horse 3 out, about one length clear when hit last, strongly pressed towards finish, kept on gamely, all out, won at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec beating Oiseau de Nuit (11-4) by nk, 10 ran.

Heathcote 10-1 (10-13) Took keen hold, chased leaders, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, joined last, no extra and headed final 100 yds, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Fistral Beach (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.

Bedlam Boy (IRE) 4-9fav (11-5) Led from 1st, clear 2 out, won at Ayr 2m nov chs (3) sft in Dec beating Primrose Time (9-13) by 6l, 5 ran.

Kilcrea Asla (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led approaching 8th, headed 6 out, disputing lead when fell 5 out, in a race won by Watch My Back (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec, 15 ran.

Prince Taime (FR) 9-4 (10-11) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, chased winner 12th, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression before 2 out, 2nd of 3, 7l behind Theatrical Moment (11-6) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) sft in Dec.

Fit To Drive 12-1 (10-1) In touch, 2nd and every chance when fell 4 out, in a race won by Can't Buy Time (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft, 12 ran.

Nikos Extra (FR) 3-1fav (11-10) In touch, mistake 2nd, effort 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Polyfast (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.

Double Vodka (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 5th, ridden 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft in Dec beating The Panama Kid (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.

Soulard (USA) 5-1 (10-11) Disputed lead with winner until 6 out, chased winner after, ridden 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Psychomodo (11-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.