Verdict

Wood Yer won on his reappearance at Plumpton in October but this looks much more competitive and he's 9lb higher now. Green To Gold is better on a faster surface but Mallusk won't mind the ground and did win on his reappearance at Uttoxeter last term. Olympian is better over hurdles, however, and Tafika's only win so far came in a modest maiden chase at Leicester over a longer trip. GORING ONE had stablemate Pete The Feat behind when running Monbeg Dude to a head over 3m here last month. He's 7lb higher now but is at the top of his game and can go one better today.

Formwatch

Mallusk (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, mistake 10th, stumbled badly next, ridden and blundered 4 out, went modest 5th 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 9, 23l behind Cottage Acre (10-11) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gs in Mar.

Olympian (FR) 16-1 (11-7) In rear, ridden approaching 6th, headway from 4 out, went 3rd after 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Triangular (11-4) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.

Afistfullofpebbles 8-1 (11-3) Led narrowly, headed 12th, lost place 14th, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 11, 43l behind Far More Serious (11-12) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.

Tafika 3-1 (10-12) Led and set slow pace, jumped slowly 1st, mistake 3rd, joined 13th, headed narrowly 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression with winner flat, weakened and lost 2 places towards finish, 4th of 5, 8l behind Stoney's Treasure (10-12) at Warwick 3m nov chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.

Green To Gold (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, chased winner before 5 out until before 4 out when left 2nd, weakening when mistake 3 out, hit 2 out, 2nd of 4, 19l behind Super Directa (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m 5f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.

Wood Yer (IRE) Evensfav (11-11) Shared 2nd behind leader who was clear until 4th, hampered 6th, challenged 8th, not fluent next, led approaching 10th, mistake 2 out, stayed on well, pushed out, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct beating The Darling Boy (11-5) by 6l, 4 ran.

Goring One (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Led, hit 2nd, headed on long run to 3 out, stayed challenging under pressure, about 1 length down when left in narrow lead and hampered 3 out, joined last, headed final 120 yards, rallied gamely close home, just held, 2nd of 11, hd behind Monbeg Dude (11-4) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.

Pocket Aces (IRE) 15-2 (11-3) Tracked leader until after 3 out, blundered 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 6, 13l behind Prince Du Seuil (11-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov.

Nomadic Warrior 5-1 (11-9) Held up, tracked leading trio from 4th, challenged 3 out, ridden before next, led last, ran on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Mar beating Investment Affair (10-2) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.

Point West (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) In rear, outpaced when mistake 4 out and next, 7th and no impression when fell last, in a race won by That'lldoboy (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov, 13 ran.

Niceonefrankie 33-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 12th of 18, 20l behind Enfant De Lune (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.

Pete The Feat (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, stumbled 12th, ridden in 3rd on long run to 3 out, went right left close 2nd and hampered 3 out, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened soon after, 3rd of 11, 12l behind Monbeg Dude (11-4) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.