Verdict

Carlito Brigante went up a massive 13lb for winning this last year but did it in such style that a follow-up is no forlorn hope. FINAL APPROACH won the County Hurdle last year and is only 6lb higher. He was nowhere near his best in a Grade 3 at Haydock last time but looks to have been laid out for the race and gets the vote. Get Me Out Of Here was a long way in front of the selection at Haydock but had finished runner-up to him in the County Hurdle though has always gone well on this track. Silverhand likes quick ground, which is why we haven't seen much of him recently, but he stays the trip and is well enough handicapped at his best to make his presence felt. Balgarry has sneaked in at the bottom thanks to a 5lb penalty for his recent Newbury victory on his debut for David Pipe. He could prove a real blot on the handicap but this will be only his fourth career start. Pipe also runs Poole Master, who is making his handicap debut after three easy victories in maiden and novice company while Cape Dutch could go well as his only recent defeat came over a trip too short on this track. French import Saphir River has a touch of class though all of his victories have come with plenty of give in the ground.

Formwatch

Get Me Out Of Here (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, tracking leaders when badly hampered 2 out, every chance flat, held close home, 2nd of 20, 1 1/4l behind Zarkandar (11-1) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Feb.

Carlito Brigante (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, tracked leaders in 3rd approaching 2nd, outpaced 4 out, ridden in 5th before 3 out, never a factor, 5th of 8, well behind Restless Harry (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hdl G2 (1) gd in Oct.

Third Intention (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Always travelling well, held up in touch on inside, hit 3rd, smooth headway to 3rd after 3 out, soon 2nd, led on bit 2 out, quickened and came readily clear before last, very easily, won at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb beating Topolski (11-7) by 9l, 7 ran.

Featherbed Lane (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) In touch, headway before and not fluent 3 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace in 3rd, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Restless Harry (11-12) at Haydock 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.

Final Approach 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, hit 2nd, lost place approaching 4th, well beaten after 3 out, 18th of 20, 39l behind Zarkandar (11-1) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Feb.

Golan Way 66-1 (11-10) With leader, led after 2nd, blundered and headed 8th, behind from 10th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Kauto Star (11-10) at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec, 7 ran.

Spirit River (FR) 9-2 (11-1) Took keen hold, tracked leading pair until steadied to 4th and not fluent 3rd, slight peck 7th, blundered next, went 3rd again after 11th until blundered 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off and eased, last of 4, well behind Bobs Worth (11-1) at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grade 2 (1) gd in Nov.

Stonemaster (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Led, joined before halfway, headed 4 out, no extra and weakened 2 out, 10th of 14, 6l behind Steel Park (9-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 gd.

Cockney Trucker (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Led, not fluent 7th, headed approaching last, weakened final 200 yards, 3rd of 4, 15l behind Oscar Whisky (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) gs in Jan.

Tenor Nivernais (FR) 7-2fav (11-7) Chased leaders, led before 3 out, clear when mistake last, eased towards finish, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Feb beating Dusky Bob (10-9) by 5l, 13 ran.

Shoreacres (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Led, not fluent and narrowly headed 6th, led again before 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, no chance with winner from last, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Smad Place (11-9) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) gs in Jan.

First Fandango 33-1 (10-11) Prominent, ridden after 5th, unable to quicken with leaders when squeezed out before 2 out, one pace and well held after, 4th of 11, 18l behind Rock On Ruby (11-10) at Newbury 2m Listed hcap hdle (1) gs in Nov.

Saphir River (FR) (10-3) 2nd of 11, 1l behind La Segnora (9-13) at Auteuil(FR) 3m hdl hvy in Nov.

Silverhand (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Mid-division, progress approaching 2 out, moderate 5th approaching straight, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 6th of 20, 10l behind Moon Dice (10-4) at Galway 2m hcp hdl gd in Jul.

Veiled 7-4fav (11-12) Behind, headway 8th, chased leaders on outside 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened before next, 5th of 7, 43l behind Violin Davis (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.

Megastar 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leader until approaching 5th, mistake 7th, soon went 2nd again, led 3 out, jumped right and bumped 2 out, edged left and no impression flat, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Owen Glendower (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gs in Feb.

Bally Legend 4-1 (11-3) Chased leadrs, went 2nd and hit 4 out, lost 2nd next, outpaced and no chance after, 4th of 7, 22l behind Third Intention (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb.

Star of Angels 11-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, led before last where mistake, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan beating The Pier (11-6) by 3l, 12 ran.

Consigliere (FR) 12-1 (11-1) Prominent in chasing group until lost place 8th, towards rear and struggling 13th, stayed on approaching 3 out, plugged on to modest 4th closing stages, 4th of 10, 26l behind Nacarat (11-8) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Feb.

Act Of Kalanisi (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) In touch, chased winner after 3 out to before next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression approaching last, 3rd of 19, 6l behind Swincombe Flame (10-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Jan.

Abergavenny 14-1 (10-0) With leader, led 2nd until next, prominent, ridden after 5th, lost place approaching 2 out, 9th of 20, 13l behind Zarkandar (11-1) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Feb.

Son of Flicka 66-1 (11-9) Behind, struggling 6th, weakened 3 out, 13th of 19, well behind Swincombe Flame (10-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Jan.

Dare Me (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Held up last, headway to 4th before omitted 2 out, went 3rd towards finish, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Sire De Grugy (11-6) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.

Knight Pass (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) In touch on inside, outpaced 3 out, switched outside before next, ridden and weakened between last 2, 6th of 11, 38l behind Batonnier (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.

Poole Master 9-4 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd 6th, led before 3 out, joined 2 out, stayed on strongly from after 2 out, clear between last 2, driven out, won at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs beating Lets Get Serious (11-4) by 5l, 13 ran.

Cape Dutch (IRE) 6-4fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, hit 5th, headway 7th, challenged 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb beating Cotillion (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.

Cotillion 5-1 (11-10) Always prominent, led 3 out, headed flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Cape Dutch (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.

Balgarry (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Made all, clear 3 out, not fluent 2 out, 10 lengths ahead last, ridden out, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs beating Nampour (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.