Verdict

TITAN split a couple of previous winners at Wetherby last time and that was a huge improvement on previous efforts. If the penny has dropped, he could go one better here though it is about time that Bal De Rio was getting his head in front over timber. Brian Ellison’s charge has yet to finish out of the frame but has been showing his best form over longer trips. Brecon Hill has won a couple of bumpers but is making his hurdling debut after a lay-off. Pastoral Music has never won on Turf but came up against a decent novice at Musselburgh on his hurdles bow and should have more to offer.

Formwatch

Bal De Rio (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, not fluent 4 out, headway 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, kept on and always held, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Octagon (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.

Brecon Hill (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 5f out, challenged over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (6) gd in May beating Quest For Life (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.

Budarri 28-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 8, 26 1/4l behind Cool Mix (11-4) at Kelso 2m (4) hvy in Jan.

Chookie Royale 17-2 (11-5) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, weakened last, 7th of 11, 26 3/4l behind The Road Home (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m mdn (5) gs in Jan.

Fighting Back 100-1 (11-0) Always behind, 16th of 17, dist behind Winter Escape (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn (5) gs in Dec.

Keepinupwitdjones 80-1 (10-12) Always behind, struggling from 5 out, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Jaunty Flyer (10-12) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) hvy in Jan.

Naasik 200-1 (11-5) Mid-division, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 14th of 16, dist behind And The New (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) sft in Jan.

Pastoral Music 7-1 (11-4) Chased winner throughout, well held last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Silver Concorde (11-10) at Musselburgh 2m (4) gd in Dec.

Phantom Isle 33-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along halfway, lost place over 4f out, tailed off, 7th of 10, 33 3/4l behind I'm To Blame (10-12) at Catterick 2m (6) gs in Nov.

Quadriga (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) In rear, pushed along and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 7, dist behind Ascendant (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f (5) sft in Jan.

Titan 50-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led after 3rd, ridden before last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Solo Saxophone (11-5) at Wetherby 2m (4) hvy in Jan.