Verdict

AMBER GAMBLER won in a canter at Fakenham on New Year’s Day and will be a short price to complete a quick-fire hat-trick, despite carrying a penalty. Brise Coeur was only a plater over hurdles and has shown little aptitude for chasing so far but Very Live has already won twice over the larger obstacles and can probably be forgiven a poor run last time at Newbury, where he was taken off his feet. It’s difficult to make a case form many of the others.

Formwatch

Very Live (FR) 7-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, ridden and plugged on same pace from next, 3rd of 8, dist behind Cepage (11-7) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.

Amber Gambler (GER) Evensfav (11-5) Close up, in rear when jumped right 1st and next, tracked leaders 8th, went 2nd 10th, led on bit 2 out, comfotable, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (5) sft in Jan beating The Jugopolist (11-3) by 6l, 5 ran.

Albatros De Guye (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Led until 2nd, chased leader, mistakes 10th and 11th, soon weakened, tailed off 14th, pulled up before 4 out, at Huntingdon 3m hcp (5) gs in Dec.

Brise Coeur (FR) 12-1 (10-10) Towards rear, well behind 4 out, kept on before last, never any chance, 7th of 14, 25l behind Caprice D'anglais (10-2) at Hereford 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.

Laflammedeglorie 33-1 (11-3) Took keen hold, held up and behind, never involved, 11th of 13, 37 1/2l behind Abbeygrey (11-8) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp (5) sft in Dec.

The Child (IRE) 33-1 (10-1) Behind, went badly left 3rd, tailed off 8th, pulled up before 3 out, at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.

Uranox (FR) 33-1 (10-0) Not fluent and unseated rider 1st, at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Dec.

Finnegan's Garden (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) In rear, ridden and behind 10th, tailed off 12th, soon pulled up, at Hereford 3m 1f (4) sft in Dec.