Verdict

Windsor Avenue and Fidux head the weights but both look to be on confidence-boosting missions returned to hurdles and are best watched. Stoner's Choice is also back over timber after three runs in novice chases and is in with a shout, although Pounding Poet looks more likely after landing two of his last three starts. He appears to be the sort who only does enough and consequently has not been harshly dealt with by the assessor. He should be a leading player, along with Caius Marcius, who would not want the ground to deteriorate but is well treated if conditions remain no worse than good to soft. However, the choice is BRIDGE NORTH, who produced a seasonal reappearance of real promise at Aintree, will relish this step-up trip and hails from a yard in outstanding form at present.

Formwatch

Fidux (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Off the pace in mid-division, weakened 19th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.

Stoner's Choice 5-2 (11-8) Led, slow at times, not fluent and headed 3 out, lost 2nd before not fluent 2 out, weakened flat, last of 3, 14 1/2l behind So Scottish (11-8) at Carlisle 2m 4f (3) gd in Oct.

Wilde About Oscar (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, led after 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened before last, 10th of 11, 24 3/4l behind Peking Rose (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct.

Pounding Poet (IRE) 15-8jfav (11-8) Held up in rear, 3rd and ridden after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, challenged last, soon led, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Copper Coin (11-7) by 1/2l, 4 ran.

Bridge North (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Prominent, outpaced 2 out, no impression before last, plugged on, 5th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Peking Rose (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct.

Romeo Brown 11-1 (10-7) Led, headed after 2nd, remained handy, hit 6th, led 3 out and pushed along, headed before 2 out, soon ridden and dropped away tamely, 6th of 8, dist behind Good Risk At All (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Oct.

Windsor Avenue (IRE) 18-1 (12-0) In rear, not fluent 1st and given reminder, headway on outside 7th, not fluent 13th, jumped right and mistake next, lost action briefly on bend before 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Oct.

Caius Marcius (IRE) 9-4fav (10-13) Held up in last pair, dropped to rear 4 out, good headway out wide before 2 out, ridden to chase leader before the last, driven ahead final 100 yards, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Hillview (11-10) by 3/4l, 5 ran.

Mr Yeats (IRE) 15-8fav (10-8) Held up in rear, ridden and headway before 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Umbrigado (12-0) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.