Verdict

Ladyvie will have learned plenty from her second to Intac at Hereford and is far less exposed than the likes of Zhukov and Walls Way, who was no match for Clu Agus Cail at Fontwell last month. The latter didn't find a great deal for pressure when only third at Newton Abbot next time, however. Tae Kwon Do and Captain Knock could be interesting but ROCK ME is fancied to follow up his win at Huntingdon. Lawney Hill's gelding responded really well to David Bass' urgings that day and there should be more to come with that first race over fences now under his belt.

Formwatch

Tae Kwon Do (USA) 9-4 (11-7) Held up, took keen hold, headway 6th, challenged 8th, led next, headed last, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Cash Back (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.

Zhukov (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Tracked leading pair, blundered 4 out, soon dropped rear & lost touch, left remote 3rd last, 3rd of 4, well behind Callisto Moon (11-3) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug.

Mut'ab (USA) 4-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, not always fluent, ridden and tried to close 3 out, no impression, never in contention, 4th of 9, 23l behind Denton Ryal (10-11) at Southwell 2m sell hdl (5) gd in Aug.

Walls Way 13-2 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 3rd, ran wide on bend before 3 out, soon moved into 2nd, challenged 2 out, no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Clu Agus Cail (10-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.

Master Darcy 50-1 (11-0) Prominent, led 12f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, 18l behind Blue Monster (11-0) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Dec.

Clu Agus Cail (IRE) 10-3 (10-8) Chased clear leaders, went 2nd 4 out until approaching 2 out, soon no impression, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Pin D'Estruval (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf.

Rock Me (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, backed off 4th (ditch), led next, ridden after 3 out, headed before next, hung right and challenged after last, led towards finish, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp 0-100 (4) gf in Aug beating Petito (11-9) by nk, 6 ran.

Captain Knock (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Held up in last, 4th when hit 10th, no chance with leaders from 11th, went remote 3rd before 3 out, 3rd of 5, well behind Marigolds Way (11-3) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.

Ladyvie (FR) 10-11fav (10-0) Pressed winner, under pressure when mistake 10th, soon ridden, plugged on in clear 2nd form next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Intac (11-12) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug.

Island News 3-1fav (10-4) Led, headed before 6th, stayed pressing leader and every chance 3 out, ridden in 4th and no impression when pulled up before last, in a race won by Parazar (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jun, 11 ran.