Point-to-point winner One Sniff is an interesting contender on his rules debut but the Gordon Richards-trained gelding is probably best watched following a long absence and preference is for Laertes, who gets the vote ahead of Love That Benny. The last mentioned is a consistent performer and should not be inconvenienced by the testing conditions but does tend to find at least one too good and that may be the case again. My Final Bid found one too good in all three starts in bumpers and it was the same story on his recent hurdles debut so he may be one to treat with some caution, while Bywell Beau may not appreciate the drop back in distance today. Sue Smith's Willies Way may be better than he has shown so fair but a safer bet looks to be Laertes, who has shown solid form behind the progressive Nine de Sivola in his last two starts and a reproduction of either of those efforts may suffice.
Bywell Beau (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Mid-division when slipped up at the 6th in race won by Topanberry (11-9) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Dec, 23 ran.
Em's Royalty 20-1 (11-12) Held up, mistake 3rd, struggling 8th, soon behind pulled up at the 11th in race won by Fountain Brig (10-0) at Ayr 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Golden Crest Rakaposhi King gelding out of a chasing-bred mare.
Laertes 6-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 11, 21l behind Nine De Sivola (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 7f nov hdl (D) hvy in Dec.
Love That Benny (USA) 9-2 (10-9) Tracked winner, headway to challenge 3 out, ridden next, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Flotta (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (D) gf in Oct.
My Final Bid (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) In touch, headway 4 out, led approaching 2 out, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Money Trix (11-5) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
One Sniff (IRE) Won at Killeady 3m ptp sft in Apr '04 beating Justthetwoofus by 10l, 12 ran.
Willies Way 25-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, driven and outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 17, 29l behind Napoleon (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov hdl (D) gf in Dec.
