Verdict

SPIRITS BAY (NAP) was a staying-on second behind the unbeaten Southoftheborder on his hurdling debut in a hot maiden at Sandown and won’t come up against anything of that calibre in this. Larchmont Lass was a useful bumper, however, while Royal Defender is improving with experience over timber. Golden Ambition was easy to back at Lingfield but shaped with promise and has more scope than Letthedustsettle and Pride Of Paris, who may do better when tackling handicaps.

Formwatch

Banteer (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Led, headed and remained close up 2nd, not fluent 3 out and pushed along, soon behind, 5th of 8, 33 3/4l behind Magic Seven (11-4) at Hereford 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Nov.

Benville Bridge 200-1 (11-4) Chased leaders out wide, went 2nd 4f out until turning in, weakened final 2f, 6th of 12, 27l behind Tahmuras (11-4) at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (5) gs in Mar.

Golden Ambition (IRE) 80-1 (10-13) Held up rear of mid-division, headway after 3 out, jumped left 2 out, 4th and no extra last, 4th of 10, 10 3/4l behind Theyseekhimthere (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 3f (3) sft in Nov.

Letthedustsettle (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along 2 out, kept on into modest 3rd run-in, 3rd of 8, 18 1/4l behind Booster Bob (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m (4) hvy in Nov.

Meraki Mist (FR) 200-1 (10-13) Always in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Chepstow 2m (4) gs in Oct.

Mistymal (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Always rear-division, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Oct.

Moorefields (IRE) 5-1 (12-2) Ld, 3l adv 1/2way, 2l adv bef 3out, jnd bef 2out where mstk, soon btn in 3rd, wknd in 4th from 2out, 4th of 9, 21l behind Nas Na Riogh (12-2) at Lisronagh 3m mdn sft in Mar.

Nordic Storm Norse Dancer gelding out of Lady Beaufort.

Pride Of Paris (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Midfield, pushed along and struggling 3 out, made some late headway, 4th of 11, 19 3/4l behind Canty Bay (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Nov.

Royal Defender (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Led, headed 2nd, tracked leader, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace flat, 3rd of 8, 5 1/4l behind Colours On Canvas (11-0) at Lingfield 2m (4) gs in Nov.

Royal Jewel (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, headway tracking leaders before 2nd, weakened 2 out, 5th of 15, 36 1/4l behind Insurrection (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f (3) gs in Nov.

Spirits Bay 11-2 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway before 2 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner, stayed on, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Southoftheborder (11-4) at Sandown 2m mdn (4) sft in Nov.

Storming Nelson (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Raced wide, never closer than mid-division, lost place after 3rd, soon towards rear, no chance after, 8th of 15, dist behind Insurrection (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f (3) gs in Nov.

Time Theft (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division, tailed off 4 out, pulled up, at Wetherby 2m 4f (3) sft in Nov.

Larchmont Lass (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Towards rear, pushed along and headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 15, 10l behind Baby Kate (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m lst (1) sft in Nov.

Sammy's Guarantee 50-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, 6th of 11, 31 1/2l behind Matterhorn (11-9) at Taunton 2m (4) gs in Nov.