A tough start to the card and from a shortlist of EREBUS, Paintball and Perfect Secret we will nominate Erebus as the pick. The selection has had three runs so far in maiden company and he ran his best race yet over this course and distance last month. There should be more to come from him and from a decent draw he is taken to get his head in front. Paintball looks the obvious alternative as he was quite well backed on his debut when his slow start did him no favours. He stayed-on quite well over 6f and with this extra furlong a plus for him he can go well. Perfect Secret is a likeable filly who showed up well on her debut in the summer on the turf at Goodwood and she posted another solid effort at Kempton last month. There may be more to come from her and she will not have to find much improvement to make her mark in this company. Until The Man has had a few chances now and looks best watched, so a better each-way alternative could be Belles Beau who hails from a yard that do well with their runners here. However, we will return to Erebus who looks the one to beat.
Latin Connection (IRE) 100-1 (9-3) Mid-division, weakened 2f out, 8th of 11, 19l behind Levitation (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Ride A White Swan 20-1 (8-8) Held up in rear, keen hold, some late headway over 1f out, never on terms, 4th of 6, 5l behind Interchoice Star (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f sell stks (6) pol.
Perfect Secret 9-2 (8-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2f out, effort on inside, and soon every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Celtic Sovereign (9-3) at Kempton 7f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Dec.
Erebus (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Held up mid-division, kept on final furlong, 6th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Capricornus (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Paintball (IRE) 3-1 (9-3) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, hard ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Exearti (8-12) at Southwell 6f 2yo mdn stks (5) fbs in Dec.
Until The Man (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Fazza (9-3) at Lingfield 7f Maiden's in Dec.
Zephyron (IRE) Wizard King gelding out of Savona.
Belles Beau 33-1 (8-12) Pushed along and outpaced in rear, 9th of 10, 11l behind Playboy Blues (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Emma Jean Lass (IRE) 7-1 (7-13) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 7th of 8, 10l behind Tiradito (8-9) at Lingfield 7f mdn stks (5) pol.
The Glamour Cat (IRE) 33-1 (8-5) Mid-division best, weakened 1 1/2f out, 9th of 10, 10l behind Willyconker (8-11) at Dundalk 7f 2yo hcp 60-90 pol in Nov.
