A tough race to call for punters but we'll take FESTIVAL KING to land it, while Nelliedonethat is one of a few who can't be ruled out with confidence. The selection gets the nod as one who has hit form and is probably still improving. He won here over 2m 4f on fast ground in December, finishing 25 lengths clear of subsequent course and distance scorer Za Beau, before following up over 3m 2f over hurdles at Carlisle on good to soft. He is adaptable, therefore, in terms of trip and ground and he may well be capable of defying an 11lb rise today. Nelliedonethat is another seeking out a hat-trick after wins here and at Newcastle. Trip and ground suit but a 9lb rise for him is likely to prove more difficult to overcome. Seize may find things happening a bit too quickly over this trip, though he does act at the track, while Checkerboard is open to improvement but gives the impression that better ground is required. Guns And Butter has conditions and trip to his liking and is respected, while Tarabaloo has enough on the CV to believe that he could well be thereabouts. Festival King is the one for us.
Guns And Butter (IRE) 15-8fav (10-9) Tracked leaders, led 8th, ridden and headed last, kept on flat, held near finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind The Randy Bishop (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 2f nov chs (4) sft in Dec.
Checkerboard (IRE) 9-4 (11-2) Tracked leaders, left poor 2nd 5 out, jumped right last 2 fences, no impression, 2nd of 6, 15l behind Silly Wupple (11-2) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs (4) gs in Nov.
Tarabaloo 20-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 4 out, stayed on under pressure from last, no impression with 1st, 3rd of 9, 6l behind The Randy Bishop (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 2f nov chs (4) sft in Dec.
Seize 7-2jt-fav (11-7) Mid-division, some headway and every chance 4 out, soon ridden and kept on until approaching 2 out, driven out, won at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Dec beating Stravaigin (11-2) by 4l, 13 ran.
Festival King (IRE) 5-2 (10-4) Held up and raced wide, chased leaders approaching 3rd, led and clear between last 2, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec beating Cave Hill (11-5) by 6l, 15 ran.
Nelliedonethat (IRE) 11-8fav (11-5) Always prominent, went 2nd 5 out, effort when blundered next, led 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace flat, held on near finish, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan beating Mr Twins (10-9) by 1l, 14 ran.
Za Beau (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Always close up, ridden 3 out, driven to lead close home, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Jan beating Kilkenny All Star (11-12) by a nk, 11 ran.
Teviot Lass 10-1 (9-10) Mid-division, smooth headway to lead approaching 4 out, headed next, blundered 2 out, no extra after, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Za Beau (10-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Hickory Lane 22-1 (10-3) Always behind, lost touch 14th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Nelliedonethat (10-11) at Musselburgh 3m cnd hcp chs (5) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
