Verdict

Few with solid claims here and Alpha Gamble can only be a tentative selection; Time Bandit and Padre represent big yards and are thus accorded respect whilst Abraham Smith ran a better race last time. Alpha Gamble had shown little prior to winning over course and distance at the start of the month but won that equally modest race with something to spare. He's 8lbs higher today but that still leaves him on a 6lb lower mark than his initital rating. Time Bandit has had three runs over hurdles, winning the second of them comfortably in 2005; market confidence behind him would look significant as it would for Padre who starts his handicap career at a realistic level having completed only once in three runs in novice chases. Abraham Smith made the frame for the first time in eleven starts over fences when second at Leicester last month; the blinkers may help bring about further improvement but, for the winner, we come back to Alpha Gamble.

Formwatch

New Mischief (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, driven 6th, beaten when pulled up 4 out in race won by Roussea (10-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Dec, 11 ran.

Time Bandit (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Held up, lost place from 4th, 9th of 12, well behind Palomar (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.

Padre (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Keen, held up, ridden, lost touch from 4 out, pulled up last pulled up 2 out in race won by Chief Yeoman (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) sft in Feb, 7 ran.

Alpha Gamble (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway halfway, chased leaders 4 out, driven to lead after last, ran on, won at Folkestone 2m 5f amt hcp chs (5) gs beating Red Jester (9-9) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.

Red Ensign 66-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased winner before 2 out, never able to challenge, 4th of 10, 23l behind Air Force One (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs.

Baron Blitzkrieg 8-1 (10-8) Always in rear, ridden and weakened 13th, struggling and tailed off next, 4th of 6, well behind Be Telling (11-12) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Feb.

Abraham Smith 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 7th, led and hit 9th, headed before 2 out, stayed on, 2nd of 19, 1 1/2l behind Mylord Collonges (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs (5) gs.

The Teuchter 25-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden 9th, headway after 11th, weakened 13th and pulled up at the 17th in race won by Gumley Gale (11-8) at Chepstow 3m 2f cnd hcp chs (5) gs in Oct, 16 ran.

Littleton Aldor (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Led, jumped right throughout, headed 8th, weakened next, struggled on, 4th of 6, well behind Duc De Regniere (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft.

Pacha Noir (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Chased leader 2nd to 5th, lost place 6th, soon behind, tailed off, last of 4, well behind Colorado Pearl (10-8) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gs in Dec.