A Grade 2 novices' hurdle to get things underway and one in which Very Optimistic ahead of Copsale Lad and Tighten Your Belt. The Jonjo O'Neill-trained six-year-old has looked mightily impressive in winning twice at Haydock, the second time from dual subsequent winner Accipiter, and with Barry Geraghty booked can go a long way towards booking his ticket for the Cheltenham Festival by winning today. Control Man has yet to progress from his Newton Abbot win, and Copsale Lad is the type to keep on progressing so long as his fibrillating-heart problems do not resurface. Venetia Williams' Tighten Your Belt handled the heavy conditions well when winning at Towcester last time and Paul Nicholls' Tragic Ohio won a run-of-the-mill event well enough at Wincanton last time. Overall, though, and despite the fact that he has to concede weight to the field, Very Optimistic can continue his winning run.
