Verdict

Birdwatch was good value for his win in a Leicester seller last time and remains feasibly well treated, has form on a soft surface and, in a hugely competitive contest, gets the vote ahead of a number who have doubts hanging over them. Uptown Lad ran better last time and handles the ground but has plenty of weight, Nobel is accompanied by an inexperienced pilot, while Siena Star would probably want a faster surface. Random Native is less exposed than most and could be of interest but is another yet to prove that he handles ground this soft, while Silver Sedge is probably a shade high in the weights at present. Silver Seeker is on a long losing sequence and a safer bet looks to be Birdwatch, who has more ticks than crosses for him.

Formwatch

Uptown Lad (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (11-2) Held up in mid-division, headway to track leaders 4 out, led approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, stayed on under pressure, 2nd of 10, nk behind The Names Bond (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) hvy.

Mr Midaz 14-1 (10-4) Mid-division, headway 7th, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 49l behind Ever Present (10-13) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Apr.

Nobel (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, chased winner 3 out, in 3rd and weakeneing when hit last, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Parisienne Gale (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f ldy hcp hdl (F) gs in Nov.

Brave Thought (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Chased leaders, mistake 4 out, ridden and every chance when blundered 2 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 5, 3l behind Mighty Fine (11-5) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Mar.

Apadi (USA) 7-1 (10-10) Reluctant to race and pulled up at the 4th in race won by Oso Magic (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Nov, 6 ran.

Random Native (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Held up, effort and some headway approaching 2 out, never on terms, 4th of 11, 36l behind Planters Punch (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft in Nov.

Merryvale Man 33-1 (11-6) In touch, mistake 6th, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten, 7th of 18, 19l behind North Landing (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd.

Birdwatch 9-2 (11-0) Led to 2nd, stayed prominent, ridden to lead again 3 out, stayed on, won at Leicester 2m sll hdl (G) gs in Nov beating Indian Star (11-10) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.

Lampion du Bost (FR) 100-1 (11-3) Held up, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, well behind Bogus Dreams (10-11) at Ayr 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs in Mar.

The Miner 9-2 (10-6) Held up in touch, headway, effort 4 out, no extra from 2 out, 5th of 7, 8l behind Kids Inheritance (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) hvy.

Chief Dan George (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, 9th of 14, 31l behind How Art Thou (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (F) gf in Nov.

Silver Sedge (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Chased leaders, weakened 3 out, 11th of 15, well behind General Duroc (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f amt hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Nov.

Northern Shadows 28-1 (10-10) Always behind, 15th of 17, 37l behind Caesarean Hunter (10-7) at Doncaster 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (E) gd.

Siena Star (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (10-3) Held up tracking leaders, ridden 4 out, kept on, 3rd of 16, 1l behind Twist Bookie (11-1) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (F) gs.

Winds Supreme (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) With leaders, weakened 3 out, 12th of 15, well behind General Duroc (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f amt hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Nov.

Tornado Alley (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Led, jumped left 2nd, headed 6 out, soon weakened and pulled up in race won by Johnjoes Boy (10-9) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp chs 0-102 sft in Nov, 11 ran.

Platium Starlight (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Led, ridden and headed 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 15, 17l behind Fox Point (10-13) at Wexford 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-95 sft in Nov.

Silver Seeker (USA) 7-1 (10-5) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 5th of 11, 25l behind Eborarry (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) hvy.

Macchiato 22-1 (10-5) With leader, ridden and weakened after 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Euro American (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) hvy, 11 ran.

Colway Ritz 12-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway on inside 4 out, brief effort after next, no impression, 9th of 18, 30l behind You Do The Math (11-4) at Kelso 2m 2f amt hcp hdl (F) gs.