WOODY WALLER is fancied to land this novices' handicap, while Dontpaytheferryman is in form and can go well. The selection has not yet run a bad race in six starts, winning two of them including over course and distance and in similar conditions last month. He was eased considerably that day and looks likely to be ahead of the assessor, so we'll side with him. Dontpaytheferryman loves to get his toe in and is generally in good form on both the flat and over jumps. He is up 6lbs for a claimer win at Chepstow recently and he should be thereabouts. Houston Dynimo is rated in the 80s on the flat and if he could translate that ability to hurdles then he'd have a good chance here, and he does act with cut. He has gone well enough in a couple of starts so far over hurdles and he is given due respect. Dancing Dik will see out every yard and La Fortalesa is interesting in a handicap for the first time now dropped a few pounds by the assessor, but we will side with Woody Waller.
Dontpaytheferryman (USA) 11-4 (11-4) Held up, smooth headway to lead 4 out, soon clear easy, won at Chepstow 2m 4yo nov clm hdl (5) hvy in Jan beating Perlon (11-4) by 11l, 8 ran.
Woody Waller 5-4fav (10-7) Mid division, smooth headway to track leaders 3 out, led after next, driven out run in, won at Musselburgh 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Jan beating Strobe (10-8) by 7l, 13 ran.
Houston Dynimo (IRE) 11-10fav (10-12) Mid-division, smooth headway to challenge 3 out, ridden and weakened from last, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Don't Stop Me Now (10-0) at Musselburgh 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
La Fortalesa (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 11, 47l behind Elk Trail (10-12) at Catterick 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
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.
Dancing Dik 40-1 (10-2) Jumped left, in touch, mistake 2nd, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 5th of 16, 23l behind Steady Tiger (11-4) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
