Verdict

Afsoun is more than capable of taking the honours in this contest and should appreciate the cut in the ground and the drop in trip but Nicky Henderson's gelding has been largely disappointing this term and a safer option looks to be Straw Bear, who gets the vote over Roman Ark. The last mentioned is a confirmed mudlark who reverts to hurdles after two years of chasing and has to be of interest on ground that suits. Mister McGoldrick is another that has been mainly running over the larger obstacles of late, while Howard Johnson's Astarador is less exposed than most of these but does need to improve to trouble the judge. The vote then goes to Nick Gifford's Straw Bear who showed a really likeable attitude when winning the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day and a reproduction of that effort will make him hard to beat.

Formwatch

Afsoun (FR) 2-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 6th, ridden 2 out, hung left, switched left approaching last, every chance soon after, weakened, 4th of 7, 11l behind Blazing Bailey (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) gs.

Straw Bear (USA) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and headed last, battled on gamely, led near finish, driven out, won at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec beating Harchibald (11-7) by a hd, 6 ran.

Astarador (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 13, 30l behind Five Dream (10-6) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) sft.

Azulejo (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Close up, led approaching 3rd, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up in race won by Dancer's Serenade (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec, 8 ran.

Mister McGoldrick 3-1jt-fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace approaching last, 4th of 9, 5l behind Calatagan (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Dec.

Regal Heights (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Held up, ridden and headway after 4 out, led next, headed after last, one pace, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Naiad du Misselot (10-0) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.

Roman Ark 33-1 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden after 11th, soon struggling, tailed off, 11th of 16, well behind Tamarinbleu (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Dec.

Torkinking (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened after next, 6th of 11, 8l behind Bywell Beau (11-10) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl (2) hvy.