Verdict

Soft ground may not be ideal but LORD BRYAN won here last June off a 14lb higher mark and shouldn’t be underestimated in an open-looking but modest finale. Light Flicker won here last month and was second behind Getaway North in this last year but failed to cope with a 5lb rise at Uttoxeter while it’s usually worth opposing Joly Maker. Massini Man was second at Southwell earlier this month but is now 0-9 over fences and Raecius Felix, who slips further down the ratings, makes more appeal. Lots Of Luck can’t get much lower in the weights but he has done all of his winning over shorter trips.

Formwatch

Lord Bryan (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) Mid-division, closed 4th, mistake 7th, lost place and not fluent 8th, behind 10th, tailed off before 5 out, soon pulled up, at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.

Who's The Guv'nor (IRE) 28-1 (11-11) Soon towards rear behind 5th, pulled up before next, at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Nov.

Lots Of Luck (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, close 2nd when stumbled badly 2 out, held when lost 2nd at the last, dropped to 4th final strides, 4th of 13, 7 3/4l behind Pride Of Lecale (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (5) hvy in Jan.

Raecius Felix (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Jumped left at times, led 2nd, headed 5th, led next, headed 13th, blundered and beaten from 2 out, 3rd of 9, 10 1/4l behind Rapid Raider (11-0) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (5) gs in Dec.

Light Flicker (IRE) 3-1fav (11-11) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened thereafter, 4th of 11, 23 3/4l behind One Fer Mamma (11-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.

Victory Echo (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Jumped right, 2nd early, chased leaders, ridden and beaten before 4 out, weakened 3 out, last of 6, 35 3/4l behind Seemorelights (11-10) at Ayr 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.

Massini Man 14-1 (11-6) Towards rear, steady headway 4 out, ridden between horses 3 out, switched left 2 out, ran on from last, took 2nd close home, 2nd of 11, 5 1/2l behind Rafferty (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Jan.

Joly Maker (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Held up rear of mid-division, hampered 13th, progress into 3rd before 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 7, 13 1/2l behind Rostello (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.

Getaway North 28-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, bumped 6th, reminder next, not fluent 9th, behind when mistake 11th, 8th of 10, dist behind Nocte Volatus (11-11) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.

Wells Gold (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Pressed leader, lost place 9th but still in touch, ridden before 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 11, 16 1/4l behind Rafferty (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Jan.

L'Es Fremantle (FR) 100-1 (10-0) Towards rear, pushed along and dropped to last at 12th, struggling next, pulled up 5 out, at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp (5) gs in Nov.

Geordie Washington (IRE) 18-1 (11-7) Always in rear, pulled up, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.