Verdict

BELLABOOSH was a beaten favourite on her debut at Uttoxeter last May but the winner went on to score over hurdles the following month and Nicky Henderson's mare can go one better here. Tiagra is related to several winners but most of them were sprinters and fellow newcomer Tuilan may have more stamina, being by St Leger winner Milan and a half-sister to winning hurdler Taffy Thomas. Kawa's defeat of A Bridge Too far over C&D in November has been franked and he will make a bold bid to defy his penalty while What A Warrior will find this company more to his liking than that in a Cheltenham Listed race at the start of the month.

Formwatch

Kawa (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 11f out, led over 5f out, in command final 3f, pushed out, won at Ludlow 2m mdn NH flat (5) gs in Nov beating A Bridge Too Far (11-2) by 3l, 9 ran.

Seventh Hussar 50-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 4f out, lost place and hung left bend over 2f out, tailed off, 13th of 15, well behind Ericht (11-5) at Huntingdon 1m 6f NH flat (6) gs.

Skarloey Alflora gelding out of Stonebridge Rose.

Sleeping du Granit (FR) Sleeping Car gelding out of Broceliande Fine.

Wychwoods Kaddy 40-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway over 4f out, chased leading pair over 2f out, kept on under pressure, no impression, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Buck Magic (10-9) at Taunton 2m 1f NH flat (5) gf in Oct.

Bellaboosh (IRE) 7-4fav (10-8) Mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden and headway under pressure over 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out, kept on, never able to reach winner, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Pure Anticipation (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m N H flat (6) gf in May.

Tuilan Milan mare out of Tui.

Tiagra Tiger Hill gelding out of Shifting Mist.

What A Warrior (IRE) 18-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 8f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 16, 21l behind Keys (11-2) at Cheltenham 1m 6f 4yo NH flat (Listed) (1) gs.