Verdict

Templier ran well for a long way on his reappearance at Fakenham and Shaw's Cross was second behind Walk In The Wild, who runs earlier on the card, here last month. Punches Cross, a three-times winner in Ireland, sports cheekpieces for the first time and Starvoski didn’t do a lot wrong on her reappearance at Ffos Las. Martin Spirit has his first run over fences in this country but Southwell runner-up MEXICAN BOY has more scope if he sorts out his jumping.

Formwatch

Punches Cross (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, lost place and reminder 9th, well beaten from 3 out, 4th of 7, dist behind Sheldon (11-10) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.

Starvoski (IRE) 17-2 (11-9) Close up, tracked leaders 4 out, led next, mistake and headed next, ridden and kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Brulure Noire (12-0) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.

Martin Spirit (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Bit keen, tracked leaders out wide, closer in 3rd 4 out, led on long run before 2 out, soon clear, reduced lead at the last, headed and no extra run-in, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Bridge Road (12-0) at Leicester 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov.

Mexican Boy (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Mid-division, jumped right fifth, headway 3 out, not fluent 2 out when tracking leaders, outpaced approaching last, kept on well flat, 2nd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Captain Ivan (12-1) at Southwell 2m hcp (5) gd in Nov.

Captain Cuckoo 50-1 (12-0) In rear, lost touch 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Dec.

Valirann Gold (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Edgy, jumped left, pressed winner until led 6th, headed after next, weakened quickly, 6th of 7, 25 1/2l behind Walk In The Wild (11-8) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.

Templier (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Towards rear, bumped 2nd, closed next, not fluent 4th, mistake 8th, went 2nd after 3 out until before last, weakened flat, 4th of 7, 11l behind Sabbathical (12-0) at Fakenham 2m hcp (5) gd in Nov.

Shaw's Cross (IRE) 5-1 (10-6) Held up in last pair, headway 5th, went 2nd home turn, stayed on same pace from 3 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Walk In The Wild (11-8) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.

Eurkash (FR) 18-1 (10-9) Front rank, driven along from 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 33l behind Harlem Soul (11-10) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.

Clondaw Robin (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) In rear, hit 3rd, some late minor headway in 4th run-in, never on terms, 4th of 7, 16l behind Walk In The Wild (11-8) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.

Kilfords Queen (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Prominent until 3rd, chased leaders, lost place 10th, jumped left 12th, soon pulled up, at Southwell 3m hcp (5) sft in Nov.