Verdict

Any eye catching market moves should be noted here, with their being so little hurdling experience on display, we'll tentatively suggest CRICKET BOY as a potential winner, with challenges expected from Aureate and Spanish Cruise. The selection is a son of Murphy's Gold Cup winner Cricket Lady and has had a couple of runs in bumpers. He'll certainly be fresh, as this is his first run for more than a year. Aureate's been placed three times in four hurdles outings, but may have had some problems having only run twice since June. If fully fit though he should be involved, and is a more than capable sort. Andrew Turnell does well here, and has just one runner on the card in Spanish Cruise. A faller last time out, he's blundered a couple of times while hurdling, but has won a bumper here. It's a trappy little opener, but we think it can go the way of Cricket Boy.

Formwatch

Aureate 16-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, weakened last, 8th of 10, 15l behind Red Admiral (11-3) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.

Bagsy's Bridge (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 21, 48l behind Kangaroo Court (10-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.

Balableu (FR) 8-1 (12-5) Nvr trbld ldrs, 4th of 12, 30l behind Gentleman Anshan (11-12) at Cottenham 3m ptp gf in Dec.

Cricket Boy 7-2fav (10-12) In touch, ridden and slightly outpaced 5 out, headway over 2f out, close up over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Lord Generous (10-12) at Cheltenham 1m 4f nhf lst (1) gs in Jan '08.

Hohlethelonely 40-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway when mistake 5th, effort after 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 14, 23l behind Clova Island (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.

Hungry For More 100-1 (11-4) Always rear, ridden and struggling 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Circus of Dreams (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.

Native Bob (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Awkward and hampered 1st, always behind, ridden and struggled after 3 out, 11th of 14, 44l behind Clay Hollister (11-0) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.

Nicobar (FR) 66-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Teddy's Reflection (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.

Our George 20-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden and weakened over 3f out, tailed off, 8th of 11, 34l behind Zarrafakt (10-13) at Folkestone 2m 1f nhf (6) sft in Nov.

Spanish Cruise (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) In touch when fell 4 out in race won by Cracboumwiz (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec, 21 ran.

St Savarin (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Led after 1st, raced keenly and set strong pace and clear, reduced lead 6th, mistake and headed 3 out, weakened rapidly, 10th of 12, well behind Postmaster (11-9) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.

The Black Baron (IRE) Lord Americo gelding out of Royal Nora.

Scar Tissue 25-1 (8-9) Dwelt, in rear, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 6, 18l behind Mayfair's Future (8-10) at Great Leighs 1m 2f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Nov (Flat).

Tecktal (FR) 33-1 (9-5) Steadied start, settled towards rear, headway on inside over 2f out, not reached leaders, kept on one pace, 5th of 10, 9l behind Imperium (9-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol (Flat).

Rouge Et Blanc (FR) (10-0) 3rd of 20, 6l behind Giorgio Quercus (10-6) at Auteuil 2m 2f hdl in May.

Savaronola (USA) 14-1 (10-9) Mid-division, moderate 7th halfway, ridden in 8th after 4 out, no impression before next, 9th of 18, 42l behind El Fontan (10-12) at Killarney 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl gd in Aug.