Course winners Kavaloti and Shalambar look high enough in the weights now and Marcos Antonius is 7lb higher than his latest win on the Flat. Rasheed may do better stepping up in distance and Lyric Poet has a shout off his current mark but LAJIDAAL is preferred. Gary Moore's charge makes his all-weather debut today and the handicapper has given him a chance by allowing him to race off an 8lb lower mark than his turf rating on the Flat. Given he's improved over hurdles recently, he looks set to take advantage and gets the vote.
Lajidaal (USA) 40-1 (9-10) Behind, under pressure over 5f out, eased over 2f out, last of 13, well behind Warne's Way (8-13) at Newbury 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Apr.
Kavaloti (IRE) 9-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, under pressure over 4f out, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, never on terms, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Exemplary (9-12) at Lingfield 2m clm stks (6) pol in Jan.
Lyric Poet (USA) 3-1 (9-7) Held up, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Chabada (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Marcus Antonius 14-1 (8-9) Rear of mid-division, some headway 4f out, no impression final 2f, 11th of 18, 10l behind Gulf of Naples (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Rasheed 9-2 (9-4) Led 2f, took keen hold, led over 1f out, soon headed, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Rocky Rebel (8-12) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Shalambar (IRE) 6-4fav (10-1) Led after 2f, ridden 3f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 8, 4l behind The Absent Mare (8-12) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Brilliant Barca 15-2 (9-0) Ridden leaving stalls, tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 20l behind Abidhabidubai (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 3yo stk 0-65 (6) gf in May.
Frederick William 14-1 (9-6) Settled towards rear, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Guards Chapel (9-0) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Extremely So 11-1 (9-3) Led, hard ridden over 3f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 7l behind Unex Picasso (9-6) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Jan.
Lakota Ghost (USA) 7-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 6l behind On The Cusp (9-7) at Ffos Las 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) hvy in Nov.
