Before The Mast can land the finale at the expense of Silverio, with Joli Classical best of the rest. This should not take much winning, and connections of Before The Mast will surely feel confident that they have found another suitable opportunity for him today. The nine-year-old was very highly thought of when finishing second to Lord Sam on his bumper debut for Noel Chance four years ago, but has had his problems and missed out on the whole of 2004. He has since joined Milton Harris who has not over faced him that is for sure, and just of late he has been showing a glimpse of what he is capable of over fences. A spin back over timber will not harm him, and the nine-year-old will not mind the underfoot conditions either. Silverio returned from a break to land a gamble at Fontwell just three days ago and might find this coming too soon under his seven-pound penalty. Flat recruit Joli Classical has shaped fairly well over timber but looks as though she may need further to open her account, and Pipe's dual French Flat winner Windyx has it to do off topweight, so the cards stack nicely in favour of Before The Mast.
Windyx (FR) 50-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 8th of 18, well behind Orcadian (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Silverio (GER) 5-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway after 7th, went 3rd 3 out, stayed on well under pressure from next, led flat, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy in Feb beating Zeloso (11-7) by 4l, 12 ran.
Before The Mast (IRE) 15-8fav (10-0) Held up, hit 7th, headway to chase leaders next, ridden and one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Log On Intersky (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Dirty Sanchez 33-1 (10-7) Always behind, 6th of 10, 31l behind Mizinky (9-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f sll hdl (5) gd in Feb.
Joli Classical (IRE) 13-2 (10-6) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 14, 17l behind Bally Bolshoi (11-3) at Chepstow 2m mrs hcp hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Heatherlea Squire (NZ) 66-1 (10-0) Held up, behind when blundered and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Lord Rodney (11-10) at Southwell 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
