Verdict

Knock A Hand won a maiden hurdle over track and trip last month and is not easily overlooked, but a 7lb penalty is likely to take it's toll in heavy ground and CURTAIN RAZER is just preferred. Paul Nicholl's charge had the rest well beaten when second to the progressive Gullinbursti at Exeter on his racecourse debut and normal improvement should see him off the mark. Rojo Vivo and Diamond Sweeper have their first starts over hurdles on their return to action and make more appeal than point-to-point winners Malin Head and Wheres Wal, who never figured on their respective hurdling debuts.

Formwatch

Knock A Hand (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 5 out, challenged 3 out, shaken up after last, kept on strongly, won at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) hvy in Nov beating Ohio Gold (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.

Caught Inthe Light 7-2 (11-7) 4th of 10, 32l behind Flying Award (12-0) at Stafford Cross 3m ptp gd in May '10.

Caulfields Venture (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Led until approaching 3rd, with leader, led 3 out, headed approaching last, soon beaten, 4th of 5, 10l behind Ballyclough (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f NH Maiden Hurdle (4-6yo) (5) gd in Nov.

Chesil Beach Boy 80-1 (10-12) Prominent, took keen hold, not fluent 6th or 7th, shaken up approaching 3 out, not fluent 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 7th of 13, well behind Highland Lodge (10-12) at Exeter 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.

Curtain Razer (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) With leader, led 2nd, ridden when not fluent 2 out, soon headed, held flat, 2nd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Gullinbursti (10-12) at Exeter 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.

Diamond Sweeper (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Pulled hard tracking leaders, ridden to challenge over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 17, 24l behind Oscar Magic (10-4) at Kempton 2m NH flat (5) gs in Feb.

Finnegan Paddy (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Mid-division, dropped towards rear and reminder 5th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened from next, tailed off, 5th of 10, well behind Lovcen (10-9) at Towcester 2m 5f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gd in Nov.

Gores Island (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, chased leaders, led 12f out, headed over 7f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 13, well behind Financial Climate (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) hvy in Nov.

Le Chasse Spleen (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Held up and always towards rear on inside, tailed off 3 out, 15th of 18, well behind Same Difference (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.

Malin Head (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders until ridden and weakened after 8th, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Highland Lodge (10-12) at Exeter 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.

Radmores Sam Evans 200-1 (10-5) Prominent, hit 2nd, lost place 4th, behind 6th, hanging left when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Cotton Mill (10-7) at Hereford 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov, 12 ran.

Rojo Vivo 13-2 (10-11) Tracked leader, led halfway, ridden well over 2f out, clear entering final furlong, ridden out, won at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft in Mar beating Kings Canyon (10-11) by 16l, 11 ran.

The Bear Trap (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Keen, prominent until ridden and outpaced by leading pair 3 out, 10th of 12, well behind Top Of The Range (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov.

Wheres Wal (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Always in rear, under pressure 5 out, never a factor, 6th of 11, well behind Harry The Viking (11-0) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.

Young Jim (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway 5th, chased leaders 7th, weakened 3 out, moderate 3rd, 3rd of 6, 36l behind Mush Mir (11-5) at Southwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.

Waywood Princess 100-1 (10-2) Mistake 2nd, soon behind, tailed off after 5th, 13th of 16, well behind Poole Master (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.