South Bronx comes here fit and in form but Sue Bradburne's gelding may find this trip stretching his stamina and a chance is taken instead with Le Biassais, who is preferred to another chasing newcomer Ever Present. The selection was nothing if not consistent over fences last term but was always likely to do better once switched to the larger obstacles and he is potentially well treated on his handicap debut, first time over fences. Ever Present has a similar profile but his form looks no better than that of Le Biassais and he has to concede Len Lungo's gelding 6lb. Sue Smith's Pebble Bay has a nice racing weight and should come on for his recent return. He makes more appeal than Iris's Prince, who got bogged down in the mud at Carlisle last time. Northern Minster needs to improve on recent form and preference is for Le Biassais who is taken to make a winning return on his debut over fences.
Ever Present (IRE) 13-8fav (10-13) Held up in rear, headway 7th, hit 3 out, led last, ridden out, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Apr beating Roobihoo (10-10) by 2l, 10 ran.
Le Biassais (FR) 8-11fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway halfway and in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, every chance last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Vic The Piler (11-9) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Apr.
South Bronx (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Held up in touch, headway 7th, led approaching last, stayed on strongly, won at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (D) gs in Oct beating Albertino Lad (11-3) by 10l, 10 ran.
Iris's Prince 14-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, lost place 10th, soon behind, tailed off when refused at the last in race won by Model Son (11-1) at Carlisle 3m nov chs (C) hvy in Oct, 10 ran.
Pebble Bay 9-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, driven and effort 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, 3rd of 17, 16l behind Wild Is The Wind (11-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) hvy in Oct.
Northern Minster 33-1 (11-6) Always behind, 5th of 8, 36l behind Albuhera (11-6) at Wetherby 2m beg chs (E) sft in Oct.
Nomadic Blaze 16-1 (11-6) In touch when slipped and slipped up at the 2nd in race won by Dead Mans Dante (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 5f mdn chs (E) sft, 9 ran.
Mounthooley 10-3 (10-10) Jumped right and mistakes throughout, tracked leaders, chased winner from 12th, no impression, 2nd of 5, 21l behind Silver Jack (11-12) at Ayr 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft.
