Verdict

The Mick Preston easily beat a subsequent hurdles winner in a Hereford bumper last December and is an interesting hurdling debutant in this. King Erik showed promise last season while Minella Beauty was keeping on when third behind more-experienced rivals at Fontwell last month. Bashful Boy won at Fontwell last month and has already placed around here but has to give weight away in an above-average novice event. Grey Flint goes hurdling after just one run in a bumper but CAMPROND is likely to have had plenty of schooling and could be a useful recruit to the hurdling ranks judged on his form on the Flat in his native France.

Formwatch

Bashful Boy (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Made all, jumped left at times, edged right flat, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gd in Sep beating Who What When (10-5) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.

Camprond (FR) (9-6) won at Saint-Cloud 1m 4f hcp hvy in Sep beating High Ball (9-5) by 9l, 8 ran.

Glutnforpunishment 9-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, headway 8f out, close up 6f out, lost place over 4f out, soon behind, eased, last of 10, dist behind Lismore (9-5) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (5) pol in Sep.

Go On Brycey Lad (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Keen, led after 1st, headed before 5th, weakened 3 out, last of 8, 37 1/2l behind The Pink'n (11-4) at Stratford 2m 3f (3) sft in Mar.

Grey Flint 9-1 (11-0) Ran green, prominent, challenged 10f out, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 7, 12 1/4l behind Hooper (11-0) at Stratford 2m (5) gd in Sep.

King Erik 16-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, not fluent 6th, led narrowly turning in, edged left and headed after 3 out, no impression between last 2, 5th of 14, 16 3/4l behind Polish (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Feb.

Minella Beauty (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden before 2 out, stayed on same pace, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Floating Rock (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gd in Sep.

Ritas Legacy 100-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden and weakened 2f out, last of 9, 15 3/4l behind Kath's Boy (8-7) at Southwell 5f hcp (6) pol in Feb.

The Mick Preston (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Held up and behind, headway on inside over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden clear final furlong, ran on well, won at Hereford 2m (5) sft in Dec beating Innerpickle (11-0) by 9l, 7 ran.

Telekinetic 12-1 (10-5) Not fluent, chased leaders on outside, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 8, 30l behind Let The Heirs Walk (11-4) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Sep.

Lakeside Lad 150-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, pushed along over 4 out, never a factor, 9th of 12, dist behind Beyond The Pale (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) sft in Oct.