Verdict

Le Burf and Cathedral Rock both have to be respected but Karello Bay is hard to oppose and looks to be the one that they all have to beat. The selection, a dual winner under testing conditions in bumpers, was good value for her first success over hurdles when successful at Warwick at the beginning of this month and Nicky Henderson's mare is taken to follow up here. Westgate has run better in his last two starts but is proving to be hard to win with, while Irish raider Yeeehaa would need to improve considerably on all known form to trouble the judge. Wincanton winner Le Burf has ability and Nick Gifford's Cathedral is clearly going the right way but neither has shown the form of Karello Bay, who should be too good for her rivals today.

Formwatch

Le Burf (FR) 11-2 (11-6) Prominent, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Monfils Monfils (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.

Cathedral Rock (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up, pushed along after 2 out, kept on steadily after, nearest finish, 3rd of 14, 21l behind Hobbs Hill (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.

Westgate (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Led, soon clear, hit 4 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Mohayer (11-2) at Haydock 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.

Yeeehaa 50-1 (11-12) Mid-division, 9th after 4 out, stayed on without threatening from before 2 out, 6th of 25, 30l behind Pennyforurthoughts (11-7) at Naas 2m mdn hdl hvy in Jan.

Karello Bay 2-5fav (11-1) Prominent, led after 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, pushed clear, won at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) gs beating Star Award (11-1) by 3l, 17 ran.