Wide open is the best way to describe this so our preference for CASSIUS ahead of Open De L'Isle and Berwick Law is only marginal. The selection has been a credit to connections of late, particularly as his trainer operates with a very small string of runners, and can go well in his bid to defy the handicapper's 13lb rise. That increase came as a result of a facile success back in December, with Glingerbank who runs earlier on the card comfortably beaten into second. Victory that day capped a solid run of form and the gelding copes with conditions so we can expect another bold bid for glory. Open De L'Isle arrives in search of the hat-trick and has obvious claims of landing it. James Ewart is a trainer to keep an eye on over the coming seasons and his charge has been well placed to land a couple of races over slightly shorter, so as he's shown he has the stamina for this in the past the nine-year-old rates a danger despite being burdened with top weight. Berwick Law landed a touch on his return to the track in December before disappointing under a penalty afterwards. That may have been down to the dreaded 'bounce' factor though so despite the fact he's racing off an even higher mark it'd be folly to dismiss his claims as he's unexposed, loves the ground and stays further than this. Raysham hasn't raced under rules since 2008 but has been doing well in point-to-points of late, so the ten-year-old should be monitored closely in the betting ahead of the race. Golden Globe struggled on his first foray into handicap ranks last time but the drop back in trip can help Ferdy Murphy's runner improve on that effort, but whether he can improve enough to rate a bet here is doubtful. Mr Woods reverts to hurdling following some costly mistakes over fences so is best watched along with Brackenmoss who may bounce back one day but can't be backed with confidence following some lifeless displays this year. Not Left Yet once had pretensions to be a good deal better than this but hasn't lived up to the billing so of more interest is Final Veto now returned to his last winning mark. This is fiercely competitive but the two last time out scorers look to hold the most obvious claims; of the pair we prefer Cassius.
Open de L'Isle (FR) 5-1 (10-9) Made all, driven out, won at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec beating Leac An Scail (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Mr Woods 7-2 (10-5) Tracked winner and jumped right throughout, blundered 5th, weakening in 4th when jumped right, blundered badly and unseated rider 10th, in a race won by Gansey (11-8) at Ayr 2m 4f nov stks (3) gs, 6 ran.
Rayshan (IRE) 2-5 (11-0) (cp) chsd wnr 14; ev ch 2 out; no ex flat, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Old Rolla (11-0) at Mosshouses 3m ptp in May.
Cassius (IRE) 7-4fav (11-1) Tracked leader, led approaching 4th, stayed on well from last, won at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec beating Glingerbank (11-12) by 8l, 10 ran.
Not Left Yet (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Mistakes and never going well in rear, ridden 8th, hit 10th, pulled up before next, in a race won by The Sawyer (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan '09, 15 ran.
Political Paddy 11-2fav (10-10) Held up, weakened 4 out, 6th of 10, 24l behind Pagan Starprincess (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
Brackenmoss (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Led, not fluent 7th, headed approaching 8th, quickly weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Peters Star (10-13) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs, 12 ran.
Cool Operator 18-1 (11-9) Close up, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 12, 32l behind Balzaccio (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Appeal Denied (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, no impression from 3 out, eased straight, 16th of 25, well behind Our Monty (12-0) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl 8Evens02 in Oct.
Berwick Law (IRE) 5-4fav (10-13) Held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, weakening when mistake last, 3rd of 11, 14l behind Iconoclast (11-6) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Golden Globe (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) In rear, chased leaders 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 25l behind Peters Star (10-13) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Manadam (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 48l behind Tarabaloo (11-1) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Final Veto 22-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, weakened after 2 out, 3rd of 12, 15l behind Peters Star (10-13) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Its Tough (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up, struggling from 3rd, no danger after, 9th of 11, 34l behind Grandad Bill (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
