TOY GUN can take this to complete a hat-trick, but also on our shortlist are Overlady and Trisons Star. Howard Johnson's seven-year-old is among the youngest runners here, but seems to have put his previous jumping problems behind him by winning successive races at Carlisle. He stays all day and handles the undoubted testing conditions he'll find here. He's got plenty in hand from top weight Trisons Star, who may find this too much of a slog. It's more than a year since he won, and he's not always been finishing his races. However, Ferdy Murphy's yard is in decent form, and he deserves respect. Overlady won last time out over course and distance following a lengthy lay-off, and this is only her fourth race. She's shown a good attitude for a small horse though, and will like the conditions, but she's shot up the weights. Scott's Mill may provide some each way value, but we think the most likely to shoot down the rivals is Toy Gun.
Trisons Star (IRE) 11-4fav (11-9) Chased leaders until fell at the 10th in race won by Panama At Once (10-6) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Overlady 15-2 (10-2) Always prominent, challenged 2 out, soon led, ridden, stayed on flat, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f mdn chs (4) hvy in Jan beating Bay Cherry (11-0) by 5l, 10 ran.
Moustique de L'Isle (FR) 10-1 (11-1) pulled up at the 12th in race won by Natoumba (11-3) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan, 12 ran.
Matmata de Tendron (FR) 10-1 (11-8) With leader, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from next, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 12, 21l behind Minella Boys (11-12) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy in Jan.
Toy Gun (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (11-11) Chased leader, led before last, stayed on well, won at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Dec beating Nelliedonethat (11-10) by 11l, 7 ran.
Badger 40-1 (10-11) Prominent, reminders approaching 7th, lost place next, plugged on to take moderate 3rd before last, 3rd of 9, 27l behind Mister Potter (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Jan.
Waking Ned (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, lost place 12th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Bannister Lane (11-12) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Shulmin 9-1 (10-4) Held up, headway under pressure approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened next, 8th of 12, 47l behind Minella Boys (11-12) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy in Jan.
Has Scored (IRE) 28-1 (9-11) Behind, hampered 6th, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Montevideo (11-11) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Jan, 11 ran.
Chamacco (FR) 12-1 (10-9) Towards rear, headway on inside 13th, weakened 15th, 9th of 18, 43l behind Supreme Keano (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Prince of Slane 16-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened from 12th, 4th of 12, 29l behind Nelliedonethat (10-11) at Musselburgh 3m cnd hcp chs (5) gs in Jan.
Scott's Mill 10-1 (10-7) Mid-division, lost place halfway, ridden 4 out and kept on one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Smart Thinker (9-11) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Iloveturtle (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off from 6th, last of 11, well behind Spare Me (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 3f clm hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Celtic Flow 28-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, led 9th to 12th, lost place next, soon behind, tailed off, 5th of 11, well behind Fisherman Jack (10-0) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jun.
