Verdict

Spanish Fleet has been knocking on the door but at a lower level. Templehills has a penalty for winning at Fakenham but that was only his second start over the larger obstacles so there should be more to come. Burtons Well will have benefited from his second at Sedgefield and is also unexposed and he makes more appeal than Crookstown, having his first run over fences since May of last year. There is no reason why TANARPINO won’t go close as it was probably a lack of match practice which cost him victory at Carlisle and he’s been left on the same mark. Mystifiable wasn’t unfancied at Newbury last month and his stable remains in top form.

Formwatch

Crookstown (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Keen, tracked leader, ridden to chase winner 2 out, kept on one pace, pressed for 2nd near finish, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Chic Theatre (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Dec.

Templehills (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 10th, not fluent 11th, 2nd after next, led 3 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Raktiman (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.

Mystifiable 15-2 (11-6) Chased leaders, pushed along after 9th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 16, 35 3/4l behind O Maonlai (11-6) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Nov.

Burtons Well (IRE) 9-4 (10-13) Led, ridden and headed before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Waiting Patiently (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.

Tanarpino 10-1 (10-13) Towards rear, went 2nd from 5 out, led 3 out, ridden before last, headed last 50 yards, weakened and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Palm Grey (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.

Easy Street (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Always behind, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Laurium (11-8) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.

Spanish Fleet 2-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, every chance when pecked slightly last, kept on and just held near finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Gold Opera (11-7) at Ayr 2m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec.

As De Fer (FR) 25-1 (10-10) Disputing lead leaving start, unseated rider somewhere between there and when back in view after 5th, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Dec.

Kings Cross (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Mid-division, reminders and behind after 11th, tailed off 5 out, soon pulled up, at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec.