Verdict

Share Option is 14lb higher than when winning over the C&D last February but Lee Edwards' claim will help to reduce the burden. Like A Hurricane is progressing well and scored over the trip at Ascot on similar ground to this in October. A 7lb rise makes life more difficult but he should get competitive. It's difficult to know what to make of Premier Grand Cru, a winner on the Flat and over hurdles in France, though the handicapper has taken no chances. Nicene Creed had little chance in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham after his short-head success at Taunton and this looks more like his class. Cool Operator looks more of a chaser and has won twice over the bigger obstacles, while Viva Colonia is a massive 18lb higher than when scoring over the trip at Wetherby in October. John Quinn has his horses in good shape and has two runners here. Dougie Costello is on board the progressive Ballybriggan but it's Andrew Tinkler's mount BLUE NYMPH, a maiden winner here last year, who catches the eye and a recent run on the all-weather will have sharpened her up for this.

Formwatch

Benfleet Boy 16-1 (11-1) Led 1st, led again 3rd, headed 5th, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 7, 10l behind Ciceron (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs.

Premier Grand Cru (FR) (10-5) won at Pau(FR) 2m 1f hdl sft in Dec '09 beating Maxdelas (10-1) by 3/4l, 14 ran.

Ballybriggan (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway over 7f out, chased winner over 2f out until over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 7l behind The Hollinwell (11-0) at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.

Nicene Creed 66-1 (11-0) Led and clear to before 3 out, headed soon after, weakened next, 7th of 9, 23l behind Menorah (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl G2 (1) gs in Dec.

Kauto Relko (FR) 28-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway on outside and hit 3 out, weakened soon after, 8th of 12, 30l behind Tocca Ferro (10-13) at Newbury 2m Listed hcap hdle (1) gs in Nov.

Altilhar (USA) 40-1 (11-3) Appeared to jump poorly in rear, blundered 2nd, under pressure after 7th, struggling after, tailed off and pulled up, in a race won by Misstree Dancer (11-3) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec, 15 ran.

Bedizen 16-1 (11-5) Held up, progress to chase winner 5th until after next, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on to go 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Sonning Star (10-7) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.

Like A Hurricane (IRE) 13-2fav (11-7) Held up in touch, driven to challenge 3 out, led after next, ran on well, ridden out, won at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct beating Ballybach (11-12) by 1/2l, 16 ran.

Tension Point 5-1 (10-9) In touch in rear, headway 10th, led 3 out, soon went clear briefly, ridden, hung right and headed flat, unable to quicken, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Valley Ride (11-4) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jun.

Culcabock (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden and one pace from 2 out, 4th of 13, 13l behind Diklers Oscar (10-13) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.

Cool Operator 5-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not much room on inner before 3 out, soon switched left and headway, not fluent last, kept on well towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Pyracantha (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.

Viva Colonia (IRE) 10-3fav (10-10) Held up mid-division, headway on inside 4 out, went 2nd approaching 3 out, every chance when not fluent last, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Nine Stories (11-8) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.

Ostland (GER) 11-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, left chasing winner 2 out, held when hit last kept on flat, always held, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Corker (10-8) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.

Bureaucrat 25-1 (11-10) Mid-division, weakened before 4 out, 6th of 12, 40l behind I've Been Framed (11-9) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.

Share Option 25-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway 8th, soon ridden, chasing leaders 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 8th of 18, 19l behind Astracad (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May.

Laredo Sound (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up behind, headway into mid-division on outside after 4 out, outpaced next, ridden and weakened 2 out, 7th of 12, 39l behind Via Galilei (10-1) at Newbury 2m con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.

Blue Nymph 50-1 (10-7) Towards rear, hit 4th, effort under pressure approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 13th of 17, well behind Soldatino (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gd in Mar.

Ruff Diamond (USA) 20-1 (10-2) Held up in rear when fell 4th, in a race won by King Troy (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov chs (2) gd in Sep '09, 5 ran.

Screaming Brave 7-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Organisateur (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Nov, 11 ran.

Burnt Oak (UAE) 8-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Wild Desert (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.

Troubletimestwo (FR) 50-1 (10-11) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, never near leaders, 5th of 12, 31l behind Warne's Way (11-8) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.

Switched Off 7-2fav (11-4) In touch, pushed along in 5th after 3 out, no chance with leaders before next, 5th of 15, 15l behind Henry King (11-11) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.

Veronicas Boy 12-1 (10-3) Mid-division on outer, fell 4th, in a race won by Wild Desert (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd, 15 ran.