Bannister Lane gets the vote here with Rookery Lad and Uncle Max rating the main dangers. The selection won well last time out when beating Simon. Granted he has a penalty for that win but he won with a little in hand and under similar conditions here he is taken to defy the handicapper. Rookery Lad rates the main danger on his latest second behind Sconced but he is becoming expensive to follow and at likely odds he looks worth taking on. Uncle Max looks well in on his best form but he continues to be let down by his jumping so he can not be put forward with any confidence. Of the remainder Haile Selassie won well last time when beating Brooklyn's Gold but will find this harder against more experienced rivals under his penalty and with this in mind for the winner we return to Bannister Lane.
Bannister Lane 4-1co-fav (10-3) Led to 2nd, led again 5th, pushed clear approaching last, comfortably, won at Haydock 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb beating Simon (11-6) by 14l, 6 ran.
Rookery Lad 3-1fav (11-12) In touch, led 6th, clear 3 out, headed run-in, no extra, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Sconced (10-5) at Fakenham 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jan.
Haile Selassie 33-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, left in clear lead 2 out, ridden out, won at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Feb beating Brooklyn's Gold (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Uncle Max (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) In touch to 11th, weakening when mistake 4 out, 6th of 11, well behind Jack Fuller (10-9) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Dramatic Quest 22-1 (11-2) Mid-division, hit 6th, headway 8th, ridden 4 out, one pace from 3 out, 4th of 14, 7l behind Baron Blitzkrieg (10-1) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Feb.
Capricorn 100-1 (10-10) Always behind, tailed off 5th, 10th of 13, well behind Desert Tommy (11-8) at Exeter 2m 6f amt hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
Lady Lambrini 50-1 (9-9) Prominent, ridden after 11th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 14, 23l behind Malko De Beaumont (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Feb.
