STOW is taken to take advantage of appearing in this company to score while hurdle debutant Le Brocquy is interesting and Authrain is another to add to calculations. The selection may have been well beaten by the progressive looking Mr Thriller on Sunday but this field is a lot weaker and Venetia Williams¿ charge can capitalise especially when you consider that he won a similar race in December. Le Brocquy sees timber for the first time after a fair career on the level. Victory in a Maiden was followed up by a good showing in a handicap before the four-year-old lost his way when connections got overly ambitious. Stamina is no worry and if he can put in a clear round you'd expect him to be close. Authurian won a seller in the summer and has since run solidly in races of this standard. There's nothing to get overly excited about with his one but in this field he has to be given a chance. Maidstone Mixture was outclassed last time up but won over this trip in August so has to be respected but we side with Stow in the opener.
Maidstone Mixture (FR) 66-1 (10-5) Held up in last pair, last and struggling 7th, lost touch before 3 out, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Lough Derg (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Arthurian (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Mid-division, weakened approaching 5th, 7th of 12, 41l behind Torphichen (10-9) at Ludlow 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Stow Evensfav (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner after 3 out, kept on, always behind held, 2nd of 7, 12l behind Mr Thriller (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (4).
Le Brocquy 66-1 (8-10) Mid-division, pushed along 4f out, weakend 3f out, last of 12, well behind Electrolyser (9-0) at Leicester 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) sft in Oct (Flat).
Pick of The Day (IRE) 11-1 (8-5) Held up behind leaders, ridden along and headway over 3f, no extra final 2f, 6th of 14, 18l behind Merrion Tiger (9-0) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Jan (Flat).
Red Expresso (IRE) 15-2 (9-6) Pushed along in rear, headway after 4f, reminders 8f out, driven 4f out, weakened and eased 2f out, 6th of 9, 25l behind Amron Hill (8-6) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Dec (Flat).
Amouretta 6-1 (10-8) Prominent, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 13, 27l behind Purely By Chance (10-8) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Dec.
