Verdict

AHEAD OF THE FIELD opened his account over fences when scoring at Southwell in a first-time tongue-tie. There should be more to come in the headgear and he’s preferred to Kilbrook. The latter made a winning debut over fences with a victory at Carlisle in October while Red Happy won a couple of chases in France last month and has joined David Pipe’s yard. Somekindofstar gets a change of headgear after placing at Fontwell while Prairie Town won this in 2019 and has his ground once again.

Formwatch

Magic Dancer 11-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, slightly hampered next, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, 16 3/4l behind Hardy Du Seuil (11-3) at Hereford 2m hcp (3) gd in Dec.

Kilbrook (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Towards rear, pushed along and headway before 2 out, went second 2 out, led last, ridden out run-in, strongly pressed close home, just held on, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Dino Boy (11-13) by ns, 5 ran.

Master Work (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Mid-division, bad mistake 4 out, soon ridden and beaten, 7th of 8, 33 1/2l behind Quoi De Neuf (11-5) at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Dec.

Ahead Of The Field (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Midfield, headway to chase leader 4 out, jumped into lead 3 out, drew clear before last, idled flat but always doing enough, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec beating Gemirande (12-1) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.

Jimmy The Digger 11-2 (11-6) Led, went clear before 4th, reduced lead before 11th, dived at 4 out, headed soon after, lost 2nd before next, plugged on in 3rd, 3rd of 5, 8 1/4l behind Hunny Moon (11-4) at Market Rasen 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.

Docte Dina (FR) 8-1 (11-11) Close up when hit 12th and unseated rider, at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.

Somekindofstar (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Held up, headway and chased leader after 3rd, led after 7th, extended advantage over 3 out, kept on until reduced lead flat, headed close home, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Kap Auteuil (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.

Red Happy (FR) (11-9) won at Fontainebleau 2m 2f hvy in Nov beating Elrancho (11-4) by 7l, 7 ran.

Rob The Getaway (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, lost place 4th, outpaced 8th, weakened before 2 out, lost 4th flat, 5th of 6, 36l behind Luckofthedraw (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.

First Class Return (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Held up, slow 11th soon towards rear, pulled up 2 out, at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Dec.

Prairie Town (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, well beaten from 3 out, 9th of 10, dist behind Present Value (11-8) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.