Verdict

Political Paddy is the only one of these to have won over either the course or distance but he's hardly picked his feet up lately. Scriptwriter ran his best race for some time at Catterick though testing ground is a problem and Blazing Bull looks too high in the weights. Heart O'The West has shown the occasional sign of promise and the veteran Commercial Express has plenty of winning experience but if NOBLE SCHOLAR can perform as well as he did behind Lisdonagh House at Hexham last time he should have few problems here despite a 4lb rise in the weights.

Formwatch

Scriptwriter (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, outpaced before 2 out, headway before last, never able to challenge, 4th of 17, 5l behind Flora's Pride (11-4) at Catterick 2m 3f am hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.

Blazing Bull (IRE) 11-1 (9-13) Held up, headway 4 out, one pace final 2, 3rd of 10, 25l behind Saroque (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec.

Political Paddy 5-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, lost place before 7th, soon behind, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Talkin Sence (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.

Raggios Boy 28-1 (10-1) Led or disputed lead, headed after 3 out, 2 lengths down in 2nd when blundered next, soon no impression, weakened into 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 29l behind Talkin Sence (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.

Heart O' The West (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 6th, struggling when mistake 8th, stayed on same pace before last, 4th of 7, 7l behind King Kalium (9-11) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy.

See The Legend 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 5th, headed next, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 7th of 10, well behind Dun To Perfection (9-12) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Nov.

Noble Scholar (IRE) 9-1 (9-13) Led to 2nd, led again before 4th, ridden and headed before last, kept on, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Lisdonagh House (10-3) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Nov.

Western Bound (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Behind, headway on outside after 4 out, chased leaders under pressure before next, soon weakened, 6th of 15, 43l behind Waywood Princess (9-13) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Dec.

Commercial Express (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) In rear, ridden after 6th, behind 8th, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd close home, nearest finish, 3rd of 7, 7l behind King Kalium (9-11) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy.

Nisaal (IRE) 50-1 (10-2) Behind, headway on outside to chase leader briefly before 8th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Rowan Road (10-1) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec, 12 ran.

Notonebuttwo (IRE) 5-1 (10-0) Prominent, ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 6, 18l behind Aye Well (11-3) at Catterick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.

Lewlaur Supreme (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Behind, mistake 5th, struggling 7th, soon lost touch, pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Luccombe Chine (11-3) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Aug, 9 ran.

Cigalas 66-1 (10-0) In touch, hit 6th, soon ridden, kept on under pressure from 2 out, never on terms, 5th of 13, 24l behind Mwaleshi (11-9) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Oct.