General Gossip gets the confident vote here with Stormy Skye and Spring Grove rating the main dangers. The selection was a fair third behind Admiral Peary last time out. He is sure to have come on for the run and given nominal improvement he will be hard to beat. Stormy Skye rates the main danger as he had every chance until falling behind Muttley Maguire last time out. If he puts in a clear round he will not be far away but at likely odds he looks worth taking on. Spring Grove would win this easily on his best form of a couple of seasons ago but he has not progressed as expected and although his yard are in top form he can not be put forward with any confidence. Macmar was a fair fourth behind Serpentine Rock last time and is another with place claims but he is becoming hard to win with. Of the remainder Wain Mountain has dropped to a handy mark and could go well at a price so he should be noted in the market but in a race that throws up more questions than answers for the winner we return to General Gossip who at least ran well last time out.
Spring Grove (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Mid-division, lost place 11th, mistake 4 out and soon weakened, 7th of 16, 25l behind Bold Bishop (11-3) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov.
Native Emperor 33-1 (10-9) Held up, mistake 3rd, headway 8th, chased leaders 4 out, ridden and weakened after next, 6th of 17, 18l behind Standin Obligation (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (A) gs in Nov.
Gingerbread House (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed 9th, blundered next and fell at the 13th in race won by Silver Knight (11-9) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (C) hvy, 6 ran.
Wain Mountain 20-1 (11-8) Held up, headway 2 out, one pace and no impression, 6th of 23, 13l behind Hakim (10-12) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Nov.
General Gossip (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Held up, smooth headway to track leading pair after 9th, soon ridden, found nothing, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Admiral Peary (11-2) at Exeter 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) hvy in May.
Macmar (FR) 7-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, mistake 6th, ridden and headway to have every chance 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 22l behind Serpentine Rock (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Nov.
Stormy Skye (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Tracking leaders when blundered and fell at the 7th in race won by Muttley Maguire (11-7) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
