Verdict

Twirling Magnet won this for Jonjo O'Neill last year before completing a double at Newbury then running well in the Fox Hunters' at Aintree. He's likely to be thereabouts again but it's difficult to see MENDIP EXPRESS being beaten here. Philip Hobbs' charge, seven times a winner between the flags, is a bit better quality than these rivals judged on his close second in the Grade 3 Becher Handicap at Aintree in 2014 and showed his wellbeing with a smooth victory at Warwick - he's likely to be near the head of the betting for the Foxhunter at Cheltenham. Grandioso won a Grade 2 novices' chase at Kempton three years ago but has had very little racing subsequently. Ballytober finished runner-up in this a year ago but was again beaten by the winner at Newbury.

Formwatch

Mendip Express (IRE) 1-2fav (12-2) Mid-division, headway after 8th, challenged 12th, led 3 out, clear before next, comfortably, won at Warwick 3m (6) sft in Jan beating Richmond (12-2) by 3 3/4l, 9 ran.

Pentiffic (NZ) 20-1 (11-11) (h) stayed on 15; nvr nr to chall, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Ask The Weatherman (11-7) at Chipley Park 3m sft in Jan.

Twirling Magnet (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, went 3rd before 18th, went 2nd before 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 7, 20l behind Royale Knight (11-8) at Sedgefield 3m 5f hcp (3) sft in Oct.

Ballytober 9-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway when mistake 12th, went 3rd before 2 out, one pace and no impression, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Current Event (12-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in May.

Shoreacres (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, in 8th place from 2 out, no impression, 10th of 29, dist behind On The Fringe (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f (2) gs in Apr.

Fromthetop (IRE) 25-1 (12-5) (tt) led 2-7; lost plce 11; 8th when ur 18, at Cocklebarrow 3m 6f gs in Jan.

Gauvain (GER) 6-1 (12-4) (cp) (tt) strugg 11; t.o, 4th of 11, 36l behind Rosies Peacock (12-7) at Hereford P-t-p Course 3m gs in May.

Grandioso (IRE) 15-2 (11-8) Chased leader, 3rd halfway, ridden entering straight, 2nd 2 out, no extra before last, 6th of 15, 11l behind Orpheus Valley (10-5) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.

Invisible Man (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, at Stratford 2m 7f (3) gd in May.

Local Celebrity (IRE) 66-1 (10-10) Led, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, dist behind Cotillion (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 4f (5) hvy in Feb.

Oh Toodles (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Chsd ldrs til outpcd 18, 3rd of 7, 11 3/4l behind Ballyjames (11-0) at Cocklebarrow 3m gd in Jan.

Trafalgar (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, mistake 14th, outpaced after 4 out, weakened before next, last of 5, dist behind Ballybough Pat (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gd in May.