Few of these come into the race in particularly good form, and it could be worth taking a chance on Drum Battle in his first start for Paul Nicholls. He has been absent since pulling up at Warwick last April, but was a good winner at Warwick this time last year and may start the new season on a fair mark. Ibin St James rates an obvious danger, having won here in November and apparently failing to stay four miles on his latest start. County Flyer was a progressive sort but has not raced for 14 months while Amarettoforanna is another course winner but very unreliable. Dick McCarthy was disappointing last time, but is generally a reliable sort who is expected to plod on for place money once again.
