Verdict

A few of these may be using this as a warm-up for next month's Summer Plate. NOSTRINGSATTACHED won that valuable handicap over C&D in 2009 and is 8lb lower now. He looked to be cantering all over the opposition at Worcester nine days ago but found nothing when push came to shove and was beaten into second by Hoo La Baloo. AP McCoy may try and hang on to him a little longer today and he is the one to beat. No Panic returned to winning ways at Ffos Las earlier this month and has gone well here in the past. He looks a better bet than stablemate Saphir Des Bois but Ostland will be a danger as he's won both starts over fences and is probably still on an upward curve. Postmaster looks a little high in the weights at present and the others have a bit to prove on recent form.

Formwatch

Postmaster 11-2 (11-12) Held up in last pair, slow 11th, not fluent next, headway 14th, led approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, no impression before last, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Quattrocento (10-2) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) fm in May.

Saphir Des Bois (FR) 50-1 (10-6) Prominent, hit 5th, led approaching 8th, headed 11th, lost place when hit 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 15, well behind Prince De Beauchene (10-5) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr.

Ostland (GER) 4-5fav (11-7) Tracked leaders on outside, not fluent 4 out, ridden after next, responded to chase leader approaching 2 out, led before last, hard pressed, edged right towards finish, held on, won at Towcester 2m 6f nov chs (4) gf in May beating Arkose (11-0) by ns, 4 ran.

Midnight Gold 20-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 4th, mistake 12th, ridden and lost place 14th, blundered next, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Keenan's Future (10-11) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.

No Panic (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Led, headed 3 out, chased leader, switched right between last 2, driven and stayed on to lead again close home, won at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf beating Rickardstown (11-8) by 3/4l, 4 ran.

Nostringsattached (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 7th, went 2nd 3 out going well, led when not fluent last, ridden and headed flat, found nil, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Hoo La Baloo (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.

Finney 10-1 (11-7) Held up, closed 4th, mistake and lost place 10th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bow School (11-13) at Wetherby 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd in May, 6 ran.

Rockiteer (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, pulled hard, headway 11th, led 13th, headed 16th, every chance before 4 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 11, 40l behind Pilgrims Lane (10-12) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in May.

Kirkhammerton (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Tracked leading pair, lost place after 4 out, behind from next, last of 7, 20l behind Rajnagan (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in May.

Chorizo (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, no extra towards finish, 4th of 5, 4 1/2l behind Another Trump (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.