Spring Lover showed signs of a revival last time and has to be respected on that evidence but has yet to prove his effectiveness over this far and preference is for Fin Bec, who gets the vote ahead of Va Vavoom and Saafend Rocket. The last mentioned has a bit to find on running here last time and is another unproven over this far but trainer Henry Daly does well with his runners here so the eight-year-old cannot be discounted. Ede'iff fell four out in the race won by the selection last time and it is difficult to know how that has effected him, while Beau Supreme is unproven on ground this fast. Talbot Lad is hard to recommend on recent evidence, while Parish Oak is another that may find this trip stretching his stamina. The Dark Lord stays well but lacks the chasing experience of his main rivals including Va Vavoom, who is entitled to be thereabouts if he handles the ground. There should be no such problems for Fin Bec though who is taken to follow up his recent success on his first start for Roger Curtis.
You're Special (USA) 5-2fav (11-7) Held up, mistake 8th, ridden 9th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Melford (10-13) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Jan, 7 ran.
Parsons Legacy (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Always behind, blundered 10th, blundered 2 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Almost Broke (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan, 10 ran.
Bounce Back (USA) 50-1 (11-12) Held up, effort approaching 3 out, mistake and weakened next, 9th of 13, well behind The Market Man (11-10) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd in Nov.
Spring Lover (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 10th, hit last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Bob The Builder (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Feb.
Va Vavoom (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) With leader, led 10th, headed 13th, weakened 2 out, 4th of 7, 21l behind Alderburn (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb.
The Dark Lord (IRE) 17-2 (11-11) Held up, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Alderburn (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb.
Beau Supreme (IRE) 9-2co-fav (11-4) Held up in touch, blundered and lost place 9th, blundered 13th, tailed and pulled up 5 out in race won by Eurotrek (11-5) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Talbot Lad 20-1 (11-2) In touch to 11th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Bob The Builder (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Feb, 12 ran.
Saafend Rocket (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Behind, some headway 13th, kept on from 2 out, never reached leaders, 4th of 12, 8l behind Bob The Builder (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Feb.
Parish Oak 20-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 10th, weakened 3 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Runner Bean (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Feb, 15 ran.
Fin Bec (FR) 15-2 (10-9) Led to 2nd, chased leader, mistake 7th, led approaching 13th, clear 15th, blundered 3 out, mistake 2 out and rider lost irons, ridden out flat, won at Ludlow 3m amt hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jan beating Tribal Dancer (10-2) by 8l, 8 ran.
Ede'iff 9-2fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway 12th, in touch but ridden when fell 4 out in race won by Fin Bec (10-9) at Ludlow 3m amt hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jan, 8 ran.
Campaign Trail (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up, reminders 7th, ridden 14th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 10, 45l behind Harris Bay (10-10) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
Kind Sir 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway approacing 10th, ridden 13th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 12, 20l behind Bob The Builder (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Feb.
Tribal Dancer (IRE) 4-1fav (11-1) Prominent, led 15th, ridden and headed 4 out, every chance last, not quicken towards finish, 4th of 11, 2l behind Quizzling (10-4) at Ludlow 3m cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
