Verdict

Gunner Sid is making his debut over fences at the ripe old age of 11, having been campaigned with great success at Les Landes for the past two years by Mark Brisbourne. Now with Bill Jenks, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he will go close in a wide-open contest. River Styx is yet to visit the winner's enclosure in any way, shape or form, and looked distinctly one-paced on his chase debut over two miles here last month when he was sent off favourite. Tino was all heart when getting up to deny The Hearty Joker at Folkestone after a six-month absence. Trainer Jeff King reckons that he will stay three miles so it is a bit disconcerting to see him dropped back in trip, while Catchatan, a winning point-to-pointer, has more on his plate than when second at Leicester. Happy Change was Listed class on the Flat for Mark Johnston and was expected to pay his way for Venetia Williams. He did not though, in three outings, and has since moved to Ian Williams, for whom he made a pretty decent debut at Haydock, finishing second to Indalo, with River Styx right behind. Pulled up in the soft ground at Uttoxeter, his ability is hiding behind a bushel at present, but it is there somewhere and might just pop out in a wide-open race.