Polyphon and Ormello look the pair to concentrate on here and it could be very close between the two of them but preference is just for the latter. Lucinda Russell has her string in good shape and Ormello ran very well in defeat at Wetherby last time. He acts with cut in the ground and races over his optimum trip here, so we will just give him the nod over Polyphon. Peter Monteith's charge also has conditions and his optimum trip and is now just 2lb higher than his last chase win, but his recent form over hurdles was not too good so today we will oppose. Salhood saw off Waterspray at Doncaster last time and wouldn't want the ground to be too heavy here. He also looks to be better over further than this and may not have the pace for this trip. The same can be said of Endless Power, who does at least have soft ground in his favour, but looks plenty high enough in the weights. Ela Re doesn't win often and would in any case not want it too soft and preference is for Ormello.
Endless Power (IRE) 13-8 (11-6) Led from 2nd, headed after 5 out, weakening when jumped badly left last, last of 4, 15l behind Daldini (11-1) at Haydock 2m nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Ela Re 10-1 (11-5) Raced keenly and led, headed before 3 out, one pace from next, 5th of 15, 14l behind Slavonic Lake (10-4) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Ormello (FR) 11-4fav (11-5) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching last, one pace, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Almaydan (11-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Salhood 3-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, headway to challenge when blundered badly 4 out, stayed on under pressure to lead before last, ridden right out, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Dec beating Waterspray (11-9) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Polyphon (FR) 5-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 15, 40l behind Doctor David (11-9) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Stormy Lord (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Raced keenly, led and cleared 4 out, headed when not fluent next, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 41l behind Pillaging Pict (10-6) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Miss Pross 13-8fav (11-10) Mid-division, headway 3 out, effort before next, one pace between last 2, 4th of 9, 17l behind Bob's Dream (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
