Caution is the best advice in this handicap hurdle, as our selection ROAMING WEST has to prove she stays this far and the opposition, headed by Hobb's Dream and Nightboat To Cairo, is modest. Our selection caused something of a surprise when winning at Exeter but there appeared no fluke about the performance. He remains well treated up just 5lbs so the biggest question is the trip, some seven furlongs further than she raced over last time. Against these though it looks worth chancing she'll stay, especially as Exeter takes some getting. If our selection fails to do just that then perhaps Hobb's Dream will be best placed to take advantage. Yet to win a race over hurdles, she's shown some decent form in defeat and this modest mark allows room for manoeuvre. She showed herself to be in good heart when winning over fences last time, in the process advertising the fact that she stays further than this, so she'll expose any stamina flaws in our pick. Nightboat To Cairo is another who has to prove her stamina for the trip but she ran well last time and hints at having the stamina, so off a lowly rating she merits respect with an improving rider in the plate. Paradise Expected would be of more interest if her yard were in better form and she might want the ground faster, so Saulty Max is of more interest. This mare represents Nigel Twiston-Davies and has shown little in some decent races, but presumably connections will hope to win races with her and this mark is a lowly one. Basford Lass acts on the ground but she's yet to repeat her bumper form over timber whilst Sylroy hasn't yet encountered ground this soft and she might find top weight too much to carry to victory on it. The market may help solve this puzzle but as it stands Roaming West represents the most solid proposition.
Sylroy 10-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd briefly 3 out, no extra from next, 3rd of 11, well behind Candle (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Basford Lass 16-1 (10-11) Not fluent, led, headed after 3rd, jumped right 4th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 11, 38l behind Dinarius (11-9) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Jan.
Sawpit Supreme 5-1fav (11-8) Held up in touch, tailed off 3 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Home She Goes (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m Mares Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (4yo+) (4) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Paradise Expected 6-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway approaching 12th, driven in 4th after 2 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 14, 7l behind Think Lucky (11-10) at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Aug.
Saulty Max (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Led, headed when mistake 4th, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off, 7th of 11, 48l behind Queen Poline (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f mares NH nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Roaming West (IRE) 33-1 (9-8) Held up towards rear, making good headway when hampered on bend before 3 out, chased clear leader 3 out, closed as leader blundered 2 out, soon ridden to lead and stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft beating Players Please (11-11) by 5l, 14 ran.
Elegant Olive 9-1 (10-8) Soon mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 13, 22l behind Meet Me At Dawn (9-11) at Huntingdon 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Lady Samantha 8-1 (10-13) Behind, slow 1st, mistake 4th, under pressure halfway, tailed up when pulled up last, in a race won by Ban Uisce (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-85 (5) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
Mistress Eva 16-1 (11-9) Led to 7th, soon weakened, eased before 2 out, last of 5, 42l behind Kilshannig (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f 4yo hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Dec.
Somerset Rose 100-1 (10-5) Towards rear, lost place approaching 3 out, 5th of 8, 39l behind Good Old Thyme (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Hobb's Dream (IRE) 5-1 (9-10) Held up in touch, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led towards finish, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan beating Quartz Du Montceau (11-7) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Canshebemine 25-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, lost place after 5th, outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, no impression, 3rd of 6, 20l behind Brigadore (10-7) at Taunton 2m 3f sell hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Nightboat To Cairo (IRE) 9-2 (10-5) In touch, tracked winner 3rd, ridden and effort 2 out, kept on, no impression flat, 2nd of 12, 3 1/2l behind I'm Your Man (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Coka (IRE) 200-1 (10-5) Always behind, pushed along and struggling after 5th, tailed off soon after 3 out, 7th of 9, well behind Mille Chief (10-12) at Kempton 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
