Verdict

Barenboim arrives on the back of a victory over a shorter trip at Kempton but is 7lb higher but Obsidian Knight has slipped down the weights and was only beaten a neck at Wolverhampton last time. Aced It had the measure of Silverscape when runner-up on the Polytrack last month but CRIMSON KING looks the one to side with. Mick Appleby’s charge was winning off a higher mark over course and distance at the start of the year and will be sharper for a recent reappearance run here.

Formwatch

Protected Guest 28-1 (10-0) Dwelt towards rear, weakened 3f out, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind The Gadget Man (9-2) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.

Barenboim 15-8jfav (9-10) Held up in rear, headway when not much room 2f out, soon switched right, led entering final furlong, ran on well, comfortably, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Dec beating Junkanoo (9-5) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.

Aced It (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Held up in touch, switched right and headway over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd last stride, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Ziggy (9-12) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Nov.

Silverscape 3-1fav (8-9) Held up rear of mid-division, headway over 1f out, not able to trouble leaders, 5th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Ziggy (9-12) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Nov.

Dirham Emirati (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Mistake 1st, always in rear, tailed off, last of 12, dist behind Givega (11-0) at Lingfield 2m (4) sft in Nov.

Crimson King (IRE) 22-1 (9-9) Steadied start, held up in last pair, wide home turn, hung left in home straight, stayed on towards finish, no impression, 5th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Tudor (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.

Obsidian Knight (IRE) 10-3 (9-2) Held up towards rear, switched right and headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, ran on, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Queen Of Ipanema (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.