Verdict

Oscars Leader won a course and distance handicap on heavy going last February and has continued to run well on testing ground over the past few weeks. He only weakened from the last in a Class 2 handicap at Market Rasen last time and looks certain to go well. Hart Of Steel should make a bold bid to get back on the winning trail after finding 2m4f too far here last time. Floating Rock has been in excellent form and followed up an easy victory in a Stratford seller with another over 2m4f here in November. Winning point-to-pointer and bumper MARTINHAL looked a nice prospect when landing an Exeter maiden hurdle last month and though having much more to do here has the scope to go on to better things.

Formwatch

Countister (FR) 40-1 (10-2) Held up in mid-division, lost place 3rd, last 5th, well behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.

The Some Dance Kid (IRE) 66-1 (11-11) Midfield, not fluent 5th, ridden after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Oct.

Oscars Leader (IRE) 6-4 (10-8) Led, pushed along before 2 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened into 3rd soon after 2 out, 3rd of 4, 13 1/2l behind Edwardstone (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.

Hart Of Steel (IRE) 85-40 (11-10) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 2 out, ridden between last 2, 1 length down when mistake last, plugged on run-in, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Winds Of Fire (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.

Penpal (FR) 28-1 (11-4) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, under pressure before last but no extra, 5th of 12, 11 1/4l behind A Large One Please (10-12) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) sft in Dec.

Martinhal (IRE) 10-3 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, chased new leader from 3 out, rallied as leader awkward last, ridden to lead narrowly run-in, kept on gamely, won at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Jan beating Karl Philippe (11-5) by 1/2l, 8 ran.

Floating Rock (GER) 9-4fav (11-12) Held up in mid-division, hit 5th, headway chasing leaders after 3 out, went 2nd before next, challenged last, ridden to lead run-in, stayed on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Sidi Ismael (11-9) by 3 1/4l, 12 ran.

Hasankey (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Always prominent, led before 3 out, clear before next, over 4 lengths ahead last, weakened and headed final 100 yards, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Gustavian (12-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.

Laskadine (FR) 11-4fav (12-2) Ridden handy, switched wide to press leaders when hit 3 out, led narrowly travelling strongly 2 out, ridden clear before last, stayed on strongly flat, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec beating Countermand (11-1) by 5 1/2l, 11 ran.

Treshnish (FR) 22-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up 2 out, at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.