Verdict

John Forbes ran promisingly at Market Rasen last week and should win races over fences but he faces no easy task just six days later here and a better bet looks to be Kruguyrova, with Bywell Beau rated the pick of the remainder. The selection showed a decent level of form in his native France and made a pleasing British debut when finding just Refinement too good in a decent hurdles race at Kempton last month. Charlie Egerton's gelding should come on for that outing and is taken to make a winning debut over fences. Torkinking was out of his depth in the Fighting Fifth last time but had earlier made a pleasing start to his chasing career when finding just Lankawi too good over course and distance and he has to be respected on a surface that suits. Open de L'Isle needs to improve to trouble the judge and of more interest may be Bywell Beau who has a progressive profile over hurdles and has to be of interest first time over fences. Kruguyrova could be different class to these though and he is preferred.

Formwatch

Beggars Cap (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Keenly in mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders next, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 33l behind Middleton Dene (10-11) at Perth 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.

Bywell Beau (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Raced freely, led and soon clear, ridden after 5th, hit 3 out, headed under pressure 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 13l behind Missis Potts (10-13) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Nov.

Cromwell Court 17-2 (10-11) Held up, blundered 7th and refused at the 8th in race won by Keepthedreamalive (11-0) at Towcester 2m 3f nov chs (3) gs, 6 ran.

Custom Design 80-1 (11-3) Held up, kept on from 3 out, never near leaders, 6th of 10, well behind Hobbs Hill (11-3) at Hexham 2m beg chs (4) gd in Oct.

John Forbes 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, mistakes, weakened from 5 out, 4th of 6, 28l behind Dark Corner (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.

Norminster 25-1 (10-9) Held up, struggling from 5 out, 11th of 18, well behind Go Johnny (11-1) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.

Open de L'Isle (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Raced keenly in touch, left in lead 2nd, headed next, left in lead again 6th, headed 2 out, ridden and rallied flat, just held, 2nd of 6, shd behind Water Taxi (11-0) at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.

Stand On Me 20-1 (10-8) Held up, headway when fell 4 out in race won by Roschal (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy, 8 ran.

Third Empire 8-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 15, 17l behind Water Taxi (11-4) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar '06.

Torkinking (IRE) 200-1 (11-7) With leader, led 4th, headed 4 out, weakened next, 7th of 8, 41l behind Harchibald (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs.

Kruguyrova (FR) 10-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, hit 4 out, challenged next, led 2 out, soon headed, kept on flat, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Refinement (11-6) at Kempton 2m 5f lst hdl (1) gs in Nov.