Venetia Williams' yard is bang in form at the moment, and she can claim further winning money here with JUST SMUDGE, but in a competitive little contest, Take It There and The Hardy Boy are also respected. This represents a drop back in trip for the selection, a ready winner over three miles at Ludlow last week in a similar contest. He carries a seven pounds penalty for that, which is partially negated by Aiden Coleman's claim, but he's still top weight, in what will be very testing conditions. The Hardy Boy is a very consistent sort who just loves jumping the bigger fences, and was a comfortable winner at Plumpton last time out. His best efforts have come at the Sussex track, but Liam Heard always gets a tune out of him, and he's won off a higher mark than he comes here on. Take It There broke her maiden last time out at the 22nd time of asking last month; a further slight step up in trip looks a positive. Several here have realistic chances, but we favour the claims of Just Smudge.
Just Smudge 4-1fav (11-7) Always prominent, led after 15th, clear approaching 4 out, eased flat, won at Ludlow 3m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft beating Ya I Know (11-8) by 15l, 14 ran.
Scaramouche 12-1 (11-0) Led to 4th, led approaching 7th, ridden, headed approaching 3 out, jumped left, no chance after, 2nd of 4, 15l behind Lightning Strike (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Take It There 25-1 (11-6) Chased leader, led after 7th, ridden clear approaching 3 out, kept on well, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec beating Michigan d'Isop (11-7) by 2l, 12 ran.
Stance 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next, 8th of 13, 10l behind Sun Quest (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f sll hdl (5) sft in Dec.
The Hardy Boy 8-1 (11-9) Chased leader, switched right before and left in lead soon after last, quickened clear, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Dec beating Keltic Moon (12-2) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Le Millenaire (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, hit 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Mount Benger (11-7) at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs, 15 ran.
Perange (FR) 20-1 (11-8) Behind, driven along and stayed on under pressure from 3 out, led 2 out, headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Mr Big (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 5f cnd hcp chs (5) gd.
