This may not be as competitive as the numbers suggest with very few of the 15 runners having any realistic chance and while the former Godolphin runner Scriptwriter is an interesting newcomer for Howard Johnson, he is far from certain to handle the testing conditions, and a safer bet looks to be Lease Lend, who gets the vote over Final Veto. The last mentioned has shown promise in bumpers and any market support for Tom Tate's gelding would be of interest. Sol Run has shown only a modicum of ability so far and of more interest may be Isla Pearl Fisher, who represents the in-form yard of Lucinda Russell. Scriptwriter would be hard to beat if handling the ground but he is far from certain to do so and preference is for Lease Lend, who has a penalty to carry for his recent win on good ground at Wetherby but has proven form on a testing surface in bumpers and he gets the vote.
Lease Lend 15-8fav (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led and mistake last, all out, won at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Sea Venture (10-12) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Art Bank 18-1 (10-12) Not fluent mid-division, struggling from 3 out, 7th of 11, well behind Tot O'Whiskey (11-5) at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Bewery Man (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Jumped slowly in rear, short-lived effort 4 out, never dangerous, 9th of 10, well behind Viking Rebel (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Duke of Malfi 66-1 (10-12) Raced keenly in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 9th of 16, 38l behind Montana Slim (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Final Veto 8-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 15, 15l behind Tazbar (11-11) at Wetherby 2m nhf (6) gd in Mar.
Georgedoubleyou (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Chased clear leader, reminders after 5th, soon struggling, 13th of 16, well behind Moonhawk (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) hvy in Nov.
Island Key (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) In touch, lost place halfway, soon behind, 12th of 16, well behind Star Player (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Isla Pearl Fisher Supreme Sound gelding out of winning jumper Salem Beach.
Luce Bay 12-1 (11-2) Tracked clear leader, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 31l behind Still At Lunch (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m mdn nhf (6) gs in Nov.
Merigo (FR) 125-1 (11-0) In touch, disputed lead 4th, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 8, 24l behind All For The Cause (11-0) at Newcastle 2m nh mdn hdl (4) gs.
Moneamon 80-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 7th, weakening when hit 2 out, behind and pulled up at the last in race won by Arctic Echo (10-13) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in May '06, 12 ran.
Scriptwriter (IRE) 11-2 (9-7) Held up mid-division, smooth headway to lead briefly 2f out, driven and no extra final furlong, 3rd of 19, 3 1/2l behind Purple Moon (9-4) at York 1m 6f hcap (2) gd in Aug (Flat).
Scuzme (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Mid-division, hampered 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 19, 35l behind Polyphon (11-8) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Sol Run (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Falcon's Tribute (10-3) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Nov, 16 ran.
What's Ahead 50-1 (10-8) Towards rear when unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Driversford (10-5) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Jul, 15 ran.
