Verdict

The John Best-trained Threes Company is fancied to come good today at a track he likes and is preferred over Red Alert Man, who has a solid chance of confirming his superiority over Regal River; despite the revised terms likely to bring them much closer together. Ashgreen and Secret Drinker are others that have to be respected in this company and can make a good race of it, with the first named standing out as a potential fly in the ointment for the selection. Venetia Williams' charge is still very lightly raced under rules and, having acted well on his only previous start at Folkestone, he can go close if he responds to the first time blinkers. However, Threes Company holds a more solid profile and is preferred on these terms. The ten-year-old still has scope for improvement and, as he gets 20lb from the top weight, he looks to have been found a good opening for him to shine. He already holds the likes of Copper Shell on course and distance form of last month and will be hard to beat with a similar effort today.

Formwatch

Ashgreen 9-2 Blundered 1st, held up, effort to track leading pair 14th, led 3 out, 8 lengths clear 2 out, weakened and headed near finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Just Anvil at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (F) gs in Jan.

Secret Drinker (IRE) 5-1 Prominent, reminders 3rd, weakened 7th, 7th of 18, 43l behind Robber at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (F) sft in Feb.

Regal River (IRE) 7-2 Tracked leaders, went 2nd 11th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Red Alert Man at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-88 (F) sft in Feb.

Ballywalter (IRE) 12-1 Prominent until 8th, behind from 10th, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Julies Boy at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) hvy in Feb.

Red Alert Man (IRE) 5-1 Prominent, led 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, stayed on to lead close home, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-88 (F) sft in Feb beating York Rite by a hd, 9 ran.

Copper Shell 8-1 Close up, led 14th to next, stayed in touch until weakened rapidly before 2 out, 7th of 12, 40l behind Gee Aker Malayo at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (F) gs in Feb.

Threes Company (IRE) 33-1 Held up in rear, steady headway after 9th, chased winner 3 out, upsides and chance 2 out, weakened before last, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Gee Aker Malayo at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (F) gs in Feb.

Cyanara 40-1 Mid-division, pushed along when mistake and unseated rider at the 12th in race won by Pewter Light at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (F) sft in Jan, 14 ran.