Verdict

Adrien Du Pont still hadn’t been asked for maximum effort when unseating his rider in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham and Paul Nicholls won this in 2015 with a five-year-old. Gibralfaro was only beaten a length when stepped up to 2m4f at Newbury. Wait For Me was well backed at Kempton over Christmas but tries this trip for the first time and has bit to find with Drumcliff on the form book. Jaleo fell at the first in the Lanzarote at Kempton last week so this can go to LE ROCHER, who has returned from a lay-off in good form and came up against a fast-improving sort at a foggy Haydock last month. The others will all need a career-best to make an impact in this grade.

Formwatch

Adrien Du Pont (FR) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place 4th, not fluent next, closed 6th, shaken up and just over 4 lengths 5th when mistake and unseated rider 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.

Gibralfaro (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division on inside, headway approaching 3 out, 2nd after 2 out, every chance last, still challenging after last, no extra and held inside final 150 yards, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Onefitzall (11-3) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.

Wait For Me (FR) 9-2jfav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders before 2 out, ridden in 5th hanging right and held when blundered last, 6th of 12, 7 1/4l behind Bigmartre (11-6) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gd in Dec.

Le Rocher (FR) 15-2 (11-9) Prominent when in view after 1st, lost place when in view after 4th, in touch when in view after 4 out, 2nd at finish, 2nd of 9, shd behind Clyne (11-12) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.

Jaleo (GER) 8-1 (10-10) Prominent, fell heavily 1st, at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.

Wolf Of Windlesham (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Chased leaders on outside, weakened after 2 out, 9th of 19, 19 1/4l behind Brain Power (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.

Remiluc (FR) 6-1 (10-6) Raced wide, led until 2nd, chased leader, hit 5th and lost place, behind when jumped slowly 9th, tailed off next, pulled up before 3 out, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Dec.

Minstrels Gallery (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Hit 1st, tracked winner until pushed along 2 out, ridden and no impression when lost 3rd between last 2, went left and weakened last, 4th of 6, 6l behind Midnight Jazz (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec.

Tintern Theatre (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Led until 5th, chased leader, led again approaching 3 out, ridden and headed before the last, weakened run-in, 4th of 15, 10 1/2l behind Sneaky Feeling (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.

Drumcliff (IRE) 9-2jfav (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders when badly hampered and lost all momentum 2 out, rallied approaching last, kept on run-in but unable to recover, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Bigmartre (11-6) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gd in Dec.

Prime Venture (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, went 2nd before last, no impression on winner, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Constantine Bay (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) hvy in Jan.

Krugermac (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Took keen hold, held up in last trio, weakened into last pair when mistake 3 out, 8th of 9, 31l behind Maestro Royal (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.