Verdict

SON OF FLICKA is back with Donald McCain after a couple of runs for Evan Williams and may be able to resume his upward curve at the main expense of Gringo and Stuff Of Dreams. The selection did pretty well as a novice hurdler despite only winning once but his career has hit the buffers this season as he hasn't made the expected progress over fences. However, this is by far the easiest opportunity that he's faced over fences to date, he has form at the track and may get away with the conditions. Gringo showed decent form at his best over hurdles and would merit respect if able to reach the same level over fences but there have to be some doubts as to whether chasing will see this ex-Flat performer in the best light although he has run well on the few occasions that he's encountered soft ground. Stuff Of Dreams will need to improve markedly on his chase debut at Catterick but could well do so whilst El Presidente is an interesting runner from Newmarket. There's not an awful lot of depth to this race though and that should enable Son Of Flicka to open his account over fences.

Formwatch

Greenandredparson (IRE) 250-1 (10-7) Held up, hit 10th, weakened approaching 12th, blundered 14th, 4th of 5, well behind Burton Port (11-8) at Southwell 3m nov chs (3) sft.

Gringo 25-1 (11-1) Held up, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 17, 20l behind Treaty Flyer (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sep.

Marlborough Sound 12-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway when mistake 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Towcester 2m sell hdl (5) gs in Nov '08 beating Liberty Seeker (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.

Neptune Equester 50-1 (11-0) Blundered 1st, held up on outside, struggling 7th, soon lost touch, no danger after, 4th of 7, 32l behind Diamond Frontier (11-0) at Newcastle 2m beg chase (4) sft in Jan.

Son Of Flicka 7-1 (11-0) Jumped left, tracked leader, led 4th until bypassing omitted 3 out, sprawled on landing 2 out, 4th and beaten when mistake and unseated rider last, in a race won by King's Forest (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f beg chase (4) gs, 6 ran.

El Presidente (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Always behind, detached 4th, tailed off, last of 22, well behind Silk Affair (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m Grade 3 nov hcp hdl (4yo) (1) gs in Mar.

Recoil (IRE) 250-1 (10-8) Held up, struggling 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Diamond Frontier (11-0) at Newcastle 2m beg chase (4) sft in Jan, 7 ran.

Stuff Of Dreams 14-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, went remote 4th 4 out, never dangerous, 4th of 9, 24l behind Jim Tango (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn chs (5) gs in Dec.