Verdict

After five preliminary meetings on Tapeta, mainly for the locals, the 2013 Carnival gets under way with many of the big guns back in action. Mike De Kock knows exactly what it takes to win races here so Final Button, a Grade 3 performer in South Africa, is an obvious starting point though he could have been better drawn as could Iver Bridge Lad, who has some excellent form around here but has the unfavoured wide berth. Belgian Bill won twice over this trip at Kempton in the autumn and has run well here in the past but the very consistent Yaa Wayl is closely matched with him being 3lb better off for a length beating at Kempton. Lily's Angel is certain to attract support from her plum draw and she's been in brilliant form in Ireland, completing a hat-trick culminating in a Listed victory at Dundalk. But she's having her first start on the surface and that could just hand the advantage to ARIETE ARROLLADOR. The Spanish entry came here a year ago to run a superb race behind Barbecue Eddie over the C&D and looks to have been trained with the Carnival in mind following a light campaign in Madrid.