Verdict

The four-year-old Maccabees is unexposed but only won a seller at Leicester last month and that was over a longer trip. Rebecca Curtis has her string firing on all cylinders and SCOTER FONTAINE could be another winner for her Newport yard. The top weight is still a maiden over hurdles but is only a pound higher than when winning over fences last season and seems best on soft ground. Tuscan Gold has had a run on the Polytrack since finishing third at Kempton in November and Ctappers also saw action on the Flat in the autumn and makes more appeal than pointer Kastani Beach. Petit Ecuyer may be the biggest threat to the selection, however, as both previous wins have come at this track and he again ran well over course and distance last month.

Formwatch

Scoter Fontaine (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Held up, raced wide, headway after 4th, went 2nd before 2 out, soon no impression, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 21l behind Extremely So (10-4) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Jan.

Tuscan Gold 4-1 (11-3) Led, headed soon after 4th, chased winner, ridden 3 out , kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 9l behind General Ting (11-5) at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gs in Nov.

Ctappers 7-2 (11-5) Prominent, led 3rd, not flunet 5th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 6, 21l behind Alborz (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft in Oct.

Petit Ecuyer (FR) 11-1 (11-4) Mid-division and raced wide, chased leaders after 3 out, ridden and every chance before last, no extra run-in, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Rocky Elsom (11-1) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.

Nemo Spirit (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Towards rear and raced wide, never dangerous, 7th of 12, 12l behind Rocky Elsom (11-1) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.

Rior (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Waited with, no extra from 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Masked Phantom (11-10) at Cork 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109 in Nov, 15 ran.

Torrential Raine 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, pushed along 3out, headway next, kept on one pace, 5th of 14, 7l behind Home Run (11-2) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec.

Kastani Beach (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Chsd ldrs, prog in 3rd bef 3out, ld bef 2out & in command when jumped lft last, readily, won at Kinsale 3m ire ptp gf in Oct beating Tipsy Gypsy (12-0) by 3l, 10 ran.

Lord Of The Dunes 50-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 10th of 17, 47l behind Big Society (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.

Zulu Principle 50-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway and in touch when not fluent 4th, lost place before 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 14, 34l behind Mr Mole (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.

Maccabees 16-1 (10-7) Held up, progress to chase clear leader 3 out, nearly 20 lengths down when left in 14 length lead 2 out, hit last, all out, won at Leicester 2m 4f sell hdl (5) sft in Jan beating Bobbits Way (11-6) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.