Verdict

Captain Paulie is slowly coming down the weights but has only managed one place in six attempts over fences. Fiftyonefiftyone has been very disappointing so far this term and Fulgora ran poorly when favourite at Leicester last month and has a lot to find to overturn that running with C&D winner Full Ov Beans. Persian Herald was second on his fencing bow in a maiden chase over C&D 12 days ago but we fancy CHRISTOPHER WREN to build on his latest third at Warwick and get off the mark over the larger obstacles at the fifth time of asking.

Formwatch

Christopher Wren (USA) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, not always fluent, hit 8th and lost place, stayed on approaching last, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 5l behind George Nympton (11-7) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.

Fiftyonefiftyone (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Mid-division, outpaced 5 out, never on terms, weakening when hit 2 out, tailed off, 13th of 15, well behind Ulck Du Lin (10-2) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.

Captain Paulie (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, lost touch 4 out, rallied and headway 2 out, stayed on to go modest 3rd after last, 3rd of 7, 27l behind Scorched Son (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.

Fulgora 9-4fav (11-4) Chased leaders, pushed along approaching 4 out, weakened soon after 4 out, well beaten when mistake last, 6th of 7, 29l behind Denali Highway (11-8) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec.

Persian Herald 9-2 (10-10) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, lost place 7th, rallied 2 out, every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Groomed (10-7) at Fakenham 2m mdn chs (5) sft.

Full Ov Beans 9-1 (10-2) Held up in touch, mistake 2nd, steady headway from 8th, chased leaders 4 out, kept on to 2nd approaching last, stayed on same pace and no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Denali Highway (11-8) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec.

Phoenix Des Mottes (FR) 22-1 (9-9) Prominent when bumped 1st, tracked leaders, mistake and dropped to last 10th (water), behind 13th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by I'm The Decider (11-1) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Aug, 7 ran.

The Black Lion (IRE) 9-2 (10-4) Soon tracking leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened after last, 6th of 11, 47l behind Mysterious World (10-3) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Jun.