Denman's half-brother Silverburn has not progressed as much as may have been anticipated since being switched to fences but has still shown a decent level of form this term, including when third to Joe Lively in the Feltham on Boxing Day and a reproduction of that effort may well suffice here, so he gets the vote ahead of Pancake and Dark Corner. The last mentioned has proven form with plenty of cut in the ground but does need to improve to trouble the selection so looks best watched. Sue Smith's Daldini has run better this term than last and has to be considered but is another that needs to improve, especially under his penalty. Of more interest may be Nick Gifford's Sobers, who looks to be going the right way and showed his liking for testing ground when successful at Chepstow earlier this month. Pancake should come on for his reappearance run at Sandown last month and has to be considered but preference is for Silverburn who is taken to open his account over fences.
Akilak (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Held up, headway when hit 6 out, blundered badly 3 out, one pace after, 3rd of 8, 16l behind Master Sebastian (10-6) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy.
Daldini 15-2 (11-11) In touch, hit 6th, lost place when blundered and unseated rider at the 9th in race won by Nirvana Swing (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 9 ran.
Dark Corner 7-4fav (11-12) Held up in rear, headway, hit 9th, led next, ridden approaching 3 out, headed narrowly 2 out, regained lead flat, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec beating Mage d'Estruval (11-5) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Gardasee (GER) 3-1 (11-0) Made all, hard pressed between last 2, ridden and stayed on gamely flat, won at Sedgefield 2m nov chs (4) hvy beating Chaninbar (10-7) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Monzon (FR) 80-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, pecked 10th, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Moon Over Miami (11-10) at Newbury 2m 2f nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Silverburn (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, went prominent at 3rd, led 14th until next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Joe Lively (11-7) at Kempton 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Sobers (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Held up, headway 2nd, hit 4th, mistake next, reminder after 6th, led 8th, driven and stayed on well flat, won at Chepstow 2m beg chs (4) hvy beating Oscar D'angron (11-0) by 4l, 6 ran.
Pancake (FR) 5-2 (10-10) Not fluent, chased winner to 3rd, blundered 9th, beaten when not fluent 2 out, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Marodima (11-2) at Sandown 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec.
