Successful over fences in novice company last term, Tensile has been returned to hurdles this season by Philip Hobbs but a combination of a high handicap mark and an absence from the track make him one to watch rather than back today. Richard Lee's Bunkum belied a nine-month absence when winning over course and distance last month and has to be respected off an 8lb higher mark under similar conditions. Sharpaten and Bak To Bill are consistent performers and both warrant respect, especially the former who goes well under testing conditions. Wild Romance is on the downgrade and this should lie between Taillefer and Queen's Pageant, who filled the first two places over 2m4f at Sandown recently. The latter is 2lbs better for half-a-length today though and is taken to reverse form with the seven-year-old.
