KNOCK A HAND has it to do under top weight but all three of Richard Lee's progressive charge's wins have arrived on heavy ground over two and a half miles so he'll be perfectly suited by forecast conditions. Raised 8lb for his latest Haydock success, he is taken to make a successful move into handicap company. Mountainous and Rimini finished one-two here over this trip last time and the former is taken to confirm the form on 1lb better terms, especially as both are comfortable on this ground. He rates the main danger to the top weight. Elsafeer has form claims but stable form is an issue and he's unproven under testing conditions.
Knock A Hand (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Made all, 1 length up last, stayed on well to draw clear towards finish, won at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating Sydney Paget (11-5) by 3l, 6 ran.
Radetsky March (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Made all, clear before and not fluent last, driven out, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec beating Blazing Buck (10-11) by 6l, 9 ran.
Cadoudalas (FR) 22-1 (11-4) Mid-division on outside when blundered 2nd, soon in rear, behind 9th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Quincy Des Pictons (9-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Grafite 12-1 (10-6) Tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, headed before next, no extra flat, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Cotillion (10-5) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
Elsafeer (IRE) 13-2fav (10-5) Chased leader, challenged 4 out, chased leaders until weakened soon after 2 out, 10th of 13, 40l behind Brampour (10-8) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Mountainous (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Made all, ridden and stayed on gamely flat, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan beating Rimini (10-2) by 2l, 9 ran.
Handy Andy (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Prominent, ridden 9th, weakened after 3 out, 12th of 16, 38l behind Thehillofuisneach (10-11) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Arbor Supreme (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, weakened from 4 out, 10th of 12, 46l behind Dais Return (11-1) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Numide (FR) 28-1 (10-6) Held up in last pair, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous, 11th of 12, well behind Ranjaan (10-5) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Rimini (FR) 7-2 (10-2) Tracked leaders, mostly chased winner from 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure, held flat, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Mountainous (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
