Verdict

With confirmed front-runners Deuteronomy and Toulouse Express in the line-up, there's unlikely to be any hanging around here despite conditions. But the pair may simply set the race up for NEWTON TONIC, who left his comeback run well behind when beating Brimham Boy by nine lengths at Huntingdon. The eye shield clearly had the desired effect there and Charlie Longsdon's unexposed seven-year-old should take all the beating here if handling the ground. Pistol Basc has recorded his only two wins at the track and is well treated on his best form but has been woefully out of sorts for a while.

Formwatch

Brimham Boy 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, hit 3rd, not fluent 7th, chased winner approaching 10th, no impression 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Newton Tonic (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs.

Red Kingdom (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed 6th, ridden before 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 8, 24l behind Saddle Pack (9-10) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.

Newton Tonic 7-2 (10-12) Led until 3rd, bumped and led 7th, hit 3 out, clear next, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs beating Brimham Boy (11-2) by 9l, 8 ran.

Deuteronomy (IRE) 11-4 (10-0) Led, ridden and headed before last, kept on, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Fred Bojangals (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.

Whiskey Ridge (IRE) 18-1 (10-3) Tracked leader, ridden after 4 out, soon outpaced, kept on from 3 out, no impression, 4th of 9, 22l behind Peedeeque (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.

Shelomoh (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Always in rear, ridden and struggling 5th, tailed off, 6th of 8, 50l behind Todareistodo (11-2) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft.

Toulouse Express (IRE) 11-2 (10-3) Towards rear on outer, mistake 3rd, tailed off 16th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Belmore Baron (10-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar, 10 ran.

Pistol Basc (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, held up, not fluent 1st, headway 10th, went 3rd 12th, hit 14th, ridden and not look keen after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 5, 27l behind Huckleberry (11-9) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd.

Mister Bloom (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Towards rear, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 32l behind Melua Maid (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gf.