Verdict

David Pipe has two entries including MAIN FACT, the winner of 12 of 29 career starts including a Haydock Grade 3 in November when Ask Dillon was almost six lengths behind. Ramses De Teillee also represents the yard and he landed a Grade 3 over fences in November and a Grade 2 novices' hurdle at Haydock a year ago. Ballyoptic won the Charlie Hall here in 2019 but hasn't run over hurdles since 2017 but Decor Irlandais always does well in his UK raids having won three times here for Noel Kelly and at Killarney when last seen in August. Itchy Feet is also a smart chaser having won the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown a year ago while Portrush Ted battled on strongly to land a Pertemps qualifier on the latter track before finding Grade 1 company beyond him at Ascot. On The Blind Side has been in excellent form all winter, scoring at Cheltenham and beating Lil Rockerfeller at Market Rasen last time. Lake View Lad, who won a Grade 2 chase at Aintree in December, is also engaged in the Cotswolds Chase at Sandown.

Formwatch

Main Fact (USA) 6-1 (11-7) Held up in 6th, some headway on outside and pushed along before 3 out, soon ridden and beaten, 7th of 8, dist behind Paisley Park (11-7) at Ascot 3m (1) hvy in Dec.

On The Blind Side (IRE) Evensfav (11-4) Pressed leader, led briefly 3rd, challenged from 2 out, stayed on under pressure and driven ahead inside final 110 yards, won at Market Rasen 2m 7f (2) hvy in Jan beating Lil Rockerfeller (11-0) by nk, 8 ran.

Ramses De Teillee (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Rear of mid-division, not fluent 11th, behind from 18th, 12th of 18, dist behind Secret Reprieve (10-1) at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Jan.

Ask Dillon (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Mid-division, closed before 4th, not fluent 8th, challenged 3 out, led and pecked slightly next, headed before not fluent last, switched left and held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Storm Arising (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.

Ballyoptic (IRE) 28-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 16th, no extra 2 out, 6th of 13, 13 3/4l behind Notachance (10-5) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.

Decor Irlandais (FR) 11-4fav (11-10) Waited with, soon in rear, slight mistake 4 out, headway on outer approaching straight, soon prominent travelling smoothly, on terms 2 out, soon led, strongly pressed and edged right run-in, stayed on well under pressure, won at Killarney 2m 7f hcp Yielding in Aug beating William of Wykeham (10-3) by 3/4l, 10 ran.

Itchy Feet (FR) 15-8 (11-7) Bit keen and never fluent, tracked winner until hit 4th, ridden and outpaced approaching 11th, looked beaten 3 out, rallied before last, went 2nd run-in and closed towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 3, 2l behind Dashel Drasher (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (2) hvy in Dec.

Lake View Lad (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on inside, blundered and ridden 3 out (normal 6 out) rallied into 2nd bypassing omitted 3 out, led bypassing next, soon strongly pressed, stayed on to assert final 110 yards, won at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Dec beating Santini (11-6) by 1l, 5 ran.

Portrush Ted (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Raced out wide chasing leaders until lost place 7th, behind next, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Ascot 3m (1) hvy in Dec.

Third Wind 22-1 (11-7) Handy enough in 5th, pushed along after 3 out, hung right and weakened from 2 out, 5th of 8, 14 1/2l behind Paisley Park (11-7) at Ascot 3m (1) hvy in Dec.

West Approach 8-1 (11-0) In touch, not much room and lost place 14th, pushed along 15th, well behind 17th, pulled up after 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.