Verdict

VICTORIAS PEAK, hard to assess as her only start over fences came in a two-horse affair when easily beaten by the classy Sebastopol, didn't necessarily look the most straightforward either last time despite coming home strongly in a competitive Warwick hurdle. She's well worth another chance over fences though off what looks a workable mark and sporting the tongue tie and cheekpieces combination for the first time. Lilith makes most appeal of the Honeyball duo as Swincombe Fleat needs to put a poor effort last time behind her. Both the consistent Lady Kk and recent winner, Love Actually, arrive with perfectly solid chances off their current ratings and Fortunes Melody should also be in the mix as she brings plenty of fencing experience to the table and Ben Bromley claims a handy 7lb.

Formwatch

Fortunes Melody 5-1 (10-8) Prominent, pushed before 3 out, 3rd when ridden after 3 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 11 1/4l behind Tweed Skirt (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.

Volkovka (FR) 11-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, some headway before 4 out, pushed before 3 out, ridden in 4th before 2 out where mistake, kept on, 4th of 7, 18 3/4l behind Tweed Skirt (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.

Lilith (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Led, headed 4th, tracked winner, reminders 7th, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out (normal 3 out), plugged on, 3rd of 8, 33 1/2l behind Flowing Cadenza (10-7) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.

Victorias Peak (IRE) 9-4fav (11-7) Chased leaders, nudged along after 6th, pushed along 8th, stayed on one pace from last, 2nd of 10, 4 1/4l behind Felicie Du Maquis (11-7) at Warwick 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.

Swincombe Fleat 5-2jfav (11-11) Led, hit 12th, pushed along and headed narrowly 4 out, ridden and beaten after 3 out, tired quickly and pulled up before last, at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Dec.

Whatsdastory (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Prominent until 2nd, chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, soon held, weakened flat, 6th of 10, 14 1/4l behind Dame du Soir (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Dec.

Lady Kk (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Held up early, closer in mid-division when not fluent 1othheadway chasing leaders 14th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden between last two, stayed on run-in, closed on idling winner closing stages, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind In Rem (11-11) at Exeter 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.

Love Actually (IRE) 11-1 (10-10) Prominent, not fluent 3rd, soon led, headed 7th and remained handy, led after 10th, pushed along before 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on gamely run-in, all out, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec beating How's The Cricket (11-4) by 2l, 11 ran.