Verdict

The richest and longest race on the card can go the way of BELLANEY JEWEL, who's preferred to Petite Margot and Hidden Bounty. She's towards the bottom of the weights, which in these testing conditions will be a big plus, and we know that she stays the distance, which could be a bit far for some. She landed a nice touch in winning at Aintree last month, her first outing since the spring, and she may very well have been saved for this. Petite Margot is towards the top end of the weights, and could find it something of a slog. She was well down the field in a slightly shorter contest at Cheltenham last time out, and there may be concerns about whether she'll get the trip. Although she was second in the race last year, she's carrying more this time around in testing conditions. The Reveley stable sent out a big priced winner in the first running of this contest last year, and they've got two runners this time. Hidden Bounty looks the pick of them, with Jass being the other. They're the two bottom weights. However, despite plenty having strong claims, we think first home will be the only course and distance winner in the field, and that's Bellaney Jewel.

Formwatch

Wild Cane Ridge (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Led to 1st, remained close up, ridden 4 out, soon outpaced, 5th of 15, 16l behind According To Pete (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.

Petite Margot 15-2 (10-12) Mid-division until 24th, soon behind, 9th of 16, 46l behind Dix Villez (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) sft in Nov.

Merigo (FR) 4-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, jumped right next, weakened from 11th, 6th of 12, 39l behind See You There (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.

Bannister Lane 10-1 (10-13) Led to 11th, weakened from 12th, 7th of 12, well behind See You There (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.

Crackadee 12-1 (11-11) Prominent, lost place 9th, tailed off from 2 out, 10th of 11, 37l behind Malko De Beaumont (10-6) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov.

Laertes 4-1jt-fav (10-8) Close up, ridden and lost place from 12th, 7th of 13, 47l behind Ice Tea (11-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.

Lucky Nellerie (FR) 10-1 (10-8) In touch, led 11th, headed 12th, led again after 13th, headed 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 12, 33l behind See You There (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.

Another Rum (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, blundered 4th, lost place from 6th, hit 8th, stayed on to take 4th towards finish, 4th of 8, 41l behind Fundamentalist (11-9) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Oct.

Bellaney Jewel (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) In touch, headway 4 out, led next, ridden and stayed on flat, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov beating Jimmy Bond (11-2) by 6l, 13 ran.

Jass 4-1 (11-0) Mid-division when fell 4 out in race won by Doc Row (10-5) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 10 ran.

Hidden Bounty (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Held up, headway 13th, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 6l behind King Barry (11-8) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.