Verdict

Gavin Cromwell holds a strong hand here. ROUTINE EXCELLENCE scored over hurdles and fences last winter and made an excellent reappearance over timber here last month. He should still have more to offer and looks on a very fair mark. The stable's Sweet Will landed a minor handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse before a convincing success at Cheltenham. He's scored on his only start over fences and is 11lb lower than his hurdles mark. Walking The Walk had been in good form over hurdles and fences without winning until a comfortable victory in first-time blinkers over the bigger obstacles at Tramore though a 9lb rise makes this tougher. Spancil Hill has won from much higher marks and bounced back to form at Punchestown.

Formwatch

Politicise (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Prominent, disputed lead 4 out, ridden before 2 out, headed 2 out, weakened, 10th of 23, 19 1/4l behind Jungle Prose (11-12) at Navan 2m 6f hcp sft in Nov.

Routine Excellence (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Mid-division, 9th approaching straight, 6th and pushed along 2 out, 4th at last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in to go moderate 2nd close home, 2nd of 22, 9l behind Maxxum (11-1) at Navan 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Nov.

Weihnachts (IRE) 11-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 5 out, 4th and ridden 2 out, no impression when slight mistake last, no extra run-in, 5th of 7, 6 3/4l behind Optional Mix (11-1) at Wexford 2m 4f hcp hvy in Oct.

Sunnyvilla (IRE) 9-4fav (10-5) Mid-division, closer after 3 out, 4th and pushed along when fell next, at Clonmel 2m 2f hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.

Sweet Will (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders going well 3 out, went 2nd out wide at the last, quickened to lead and hung left run-in, stayed on strongly, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Fine Casting (11-9) by 3 3/4l, 18 ran.

Huntingtown (IRE) 200-1 (11-12) Mid-division, slight mistakes 2nd and 3rd, no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 9th of 15, dist behind Fil Dor (11-4) at Navan 2m 1f sft in Nov.

Spancil Hill (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, 5th on outer 3 out, ridden in 2nd when jumped right 2 out, soon no impression on winner, kept on one pace, 2nd of 13, 6 1/2l behind Highstreetfashion (10-0) at Punchestown 3m 2f hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.

Walking The Walk (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) Rear of mid division, 5th halfway, progress into 3rd 3 out, pushed along in 4th 2 out, good headway to lead last, soon ridden and kept on well, won at Tramore 2m 5f hcp sft in Dec beating Costalita (10-13) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.

Lacken Bridge (IRE) 18-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders early, disputed lead at 3rd, headed 12th, mistake next, weakened from 3 out, 8th of 13, dist behind Highstreetfashion (10-0) at Punchestown 3m 2f hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.