Verdict

This looks wide open with only three of the 15 entries having raced over fences previously. King Of Brazil was lightly raced over hurdles but won at Warwick in the spring. SPORTING MIKE placed in five of his nine hurdles starts and has already won a point-to-point so a switch to fences should suit Ben Pauling’s gelding. Zestful Hope has chasing experience and there are possibilities about a whole host of others including King's Threshold, Invincible Nao, Hot Rod Lincoln and Big Blue Moon with the latter on a steep upward curve over timber in the spring.

Formwatch

Kap Auteuil (FR) 18-1 (11-4) Close up, led after 6th, hit 12th and soon headed, not fluent next, dropped to rear after 4 out, soon beaten, 9th of 12, dist behind Latitude (11-9) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in May.

Zestful Hope (FR) 15-2 (11-8) Handy, led 7th, headed 3 out, pushed along and soon weakened, 7th of 9, dist behind Hyland (11-12) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.

Sporting Mike (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway into 4th after 3 out, pushed along and pressed leaders before last, ridden and outpaced by winner run-in, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind No But I Will (11-2) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 7f (4) gd in Apr.

King's Threshold (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Waited with in rear, steady headway 7th, pushed along in 4th after 3 out, no impression, 4th of 9, 11 3/4l behind Classic Concorde (10-11) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Oct.

Pachacuti (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Not always fluent, led until 6th, 4th and beaten 2 out, weakened last, 7th of 15, 22 1/4l behind Pikar (11-8) at Warwick 2m 3f (4) gd in Feb.

King Of Brazil 4-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, outpaced and ridden before 3 out, soon beaten, 8th of 9, 34 3/4l behind Bumpy Johnson (12-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Apr.

Invincible Nao (FR) 13-2 (11-6) Towards rear, ridden along to improve after 3 out, ran on well from 2 out, nearest finish, 4th of 13, 2 3/4l behind Godot (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in May.

Hurlerontheditch (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Led, went right 2nd, pushed along and headed before 3 out, chased leading duo, still well there 2 out, ridden and weakened between last two, 3rd of 9, 7 3/4l behind City Derby (10-8) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Apr.

Doyouknowwhatimean 2-1 (11-6) In touch towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and went distant second after last, ran on but made no impression on winner, 2nd of 5, 18l behind Another Mystery (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 7f mdn (4) gd in May.

Hot Rod Lincoln (IRE) 8-15fav (11-4) Led, not fluent 6th, headed 8th, led 3 out, pushed along and joined before 2 out, edged right approaching last, ridden flat, kept on, won at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn (4) gd in May beating Shandancer (11-4) by 1/2l, 11 ran.

Pilsdon Pen 7-2 (12-0) Close up, disputed after 4 out, led on landing 3 out, soon pressed and passed by winner approaching 2 out, kept on well but no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Walkinthewoods (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in May.

Big Blue Moon 8-11fav (12-5) Held up in touch, lost place before 2nd, closed when not fluent 3rd, 3rd and ridden when mistake 2 out, went 2nd before last, held flat, kept on, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Ring The Moon (10-13) at Chepstow 2m hcp (5) sft in Mar.

File Illico (FR) 12-1 (11-13) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 3rd, lost 2nd, 4th of 9, 20 3/4l behind Stumps Or Slips (10-9) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr.

Has Troke (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Led, ridden and hard pressed 2 out, headed last, no extra flat, 6th of 9, 4 1/4l behind Gerico Ville (12-0) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Jan.

Grey D'alco (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Led until 5th, chased leaders on inside, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 12, dist behind Ballycamus (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp (4) sft in Mar.