Verdict

This is a contest that lacks any real strength in depth and Planters Punch should be good enough to defy the penalty incurred for his Carlisle success and is taken to follow up at the main expense of Witch Wind and Hialeah. The last mentioned has graduated from bumpers and would be of interest if the market spoke in his favour, while Beardie's Dream, who has been placed in a point-to-point, would not need to be out of the ordinary to make her presence felt first time out. Palamedes, a son of Sadler's Wells, and Micky Hammond's Boris The Spider are both interesting on their hurdling debuts and have to be respected. Witch Wind had some decent form in bumpers last term, including in the race at Aintree that has worked out so well, and showed promise behind Percussionist on his hurdling debut. However, Planters Punch did everything asked of him when scoring at Carlisle and is taken to follow up.

Formwatch

Planters Punch (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Always prominent, effort approaching 2 out, led after last, kept on, won at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft in Nov beating Winapenny (10-9) by a nk, 11 ran.

Auenmoon (GER) 11-1 (11-2) In touch, led 3rd, headed 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 6th of 15, 30l behind Serbelloni (11-2) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (E) gs.

Barney (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Hampered 1st, always behind, 12th of 17, well behind Rasharrow (11-5) at Ayr 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Nov.

Boris The Spider 14-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up, effort 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Planters Punch (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft in Nov.

Compton Earl 50-1 (11-5) In touch to halfway, soon beaten, 18th of 19, well behind Coalition (11-9) at Down Royal 2m mdn hdl hvy in Nov.

Compton Eclipse 16-1 (11-12) Headway halfway, one pace from 3 out, 10th of 19, 36l behind Coalition (11-9) at Down Royal 2m mdn hdl hvy in Nov.

Fourswainby (IRE) 50-1 (9-4) Always behind, 9th of 12, well behind Piper General (8-12) at Southwell 1m 4f mdn stk (5) fbs in Nov (Flat).

Hialeah 22-1 (10-11) Always behind, 10th of 12, well behind Square Mile (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Oct.

John's Treasure (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 5th of 11, 32l behind Chef de Cour (11-2) at Perth 2m nov hdl (E) hvy in Jun.

Palamedes 12-1 (9-12) Led to 5f out, weakened quickly, last of 9, well behind Sun Hill (9-0) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (5) fbs in Nov (Flat).

Phone Tapping 11-2 (8-4) Mid-division, ridden over 5f out, soon beaten, last of 11, well behind Dhehdaah (9-0) at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp (6) gs in Mar (Flat).

Red Bluff (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always in rear, tailed off from 2 out, 12th of 17, well behind Huckster (11-0) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (D) gs.

Swahili Dancer (USA) 33-1 (11-2) Behind, ridden 3 out, never on terms, 8th of 15, well behind Serbelloni (11-2) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (E) gs.

Titus Salt (USA) 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 17, 30l behind Huckster (11-0) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (D) gs.

Witch Wind 12-1 (10-7) Close up, not fluent 3rd, effort approaching 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Percussionist (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft in Nov.

Beardie's Dream (IRE) 10-11fav (11-7) 2nd of 8, 11l behind Strong Will (11-12) at Hexham 2m 4f ptp gd in May.

Dusky Dame 100-1 (10-8) Always behind, 14th of 21, 49l behind Abragante (10-11) at Wetherby 2m nhf (H) gs in Mar.

Rosina Copper 66-1 (10-5) Mistakes, always behind, last of 7, 42l behind Diamond Cutter (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in May.