Verdict

ACOSTA gets the vote in this handicap hurdle, with Tarateeno and Merry Music rated as the dangers. This 5-year-old won well when last seen out over this course and distance when he beat Low Delta. He will handle the ground and he is a thorough stayer so in what could turn out to be a war of attrition he should not be found wanting. Tarateeno seems to be improving with his racing and he posted another solid effort last time out when he finished third behind Supreme Keano at Towcester. However, he has yet to get his head in front in either code and he is becoming expensive to follow. Merry Music was far from disgraced last time out when he finished third behind Mistress To No One. He will handle the ground and he has place claims, but he is better on a faster surface. Estate has been off the track since September so the market may be a guide to his chance, but Acosta is in good form and he can make it back-to-back wins.

Formwatch

Estate 3-1jt-fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden after 7th, weakened after 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Idian Mix (10-1) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in May, 11 ran.

Joli Classical (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, 9th of 15, 39l behind Extra Bold (10-11) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May.

Lord Shark (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Soon in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 14, 28l behind Michel Le Bon (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.

Before Dark (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, led 3 out, ran on, won at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec '06 beating Jug Of Punch (9-13) by 3 1/2l, 15 ran.

Deep Pockets (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Always struggling to go pace, always in rear, 8th of 18, 42l behind Heathcliff (10-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.

Georges Boy (IRE) 17-2 (10-8) Chased leader, led after 4th to 6th, mistake 11th, weakened 13th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Pangbourne (11-3) at Taunton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs, 8 ran.

Quattrocento (FR) 20-1 (11-3) Mid-division, behind from 10th, tailed off, 8th of 16, well behind Stagecoach Opal (10-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.

Romantic Bridge (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Mid-division and weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Barnhill Brownie (11-12) at Ascot 3m nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Dec, 16 ran.

More The Merrier (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, reminders 5th, driven 4 out, close up 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 13, 19l behind Radmores Revenge (11-3) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) hvy.

The Hudnalls (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon ridden, weakened and blundered 2 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Hearty Dove (10-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec, 13 ran.

Acosta 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, reminders and headway 5th, chased leader 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on well to lead last, kept on flat, won at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd beating Low Delta (10-7) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.

Tarateeno 7-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden from 7th, plugged on one pace, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Supreme Keano (10-11) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.

Saint Par (FR) 18-1 (10-2) Raced wide, held up and always behind, 8th of 16, 33l behind I'm The Decider (11-3) at Ludlow 3m amt hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.

Merry Music (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 6th, soon ridden, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Mistress To No One (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (4) sft in Dec.

Bernard 11-2 (10-4) Towards rear, headway 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up before last pulled up at the last in race won by Penn Da Benn (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd, 8 ran.

Benedict Bay 11-2 (10-2) Never travelling well, always in rear, tailed off, 6th of 9, 49l behind Burgess Hill (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.

Bethebestyoucanbe 9-2 (10-1) Prominent, ridden and weakened 8th, 4th of 9, well behind Acosta (11-0) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.