We'll give another chance to GANDALFE in this as he's been set some much stiffer tasks in the past and the form of his latest second at Lingfield was franked by the winner next time. Last Shot is proving to have a bit of a soft centre and all of his form over fences is over further while Groomed didn't beat much on his chasing bow at Fakenham and has been harshly assessed. Mr Muddle is another done no favours by the handicapper but there may be more to come from French import To Live and he makes more appeal than Upton Mead, who is a long way out of the handicap proper.
Mr Muddle 66-1 (11-0) Towards rear, weakened over 3f out, 9th of 10, 34l behind Sam Winner (11-0) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
Groomed (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 7l behind Captain Kelly (11-4) at Wolverhampton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
To Live (FR) 11-4 (11-4) Tracked leader until before 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 7, 20l behind Arthur's Pass (11-7) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Gandalfe (FR) 7-4fav (11-0) Led, narrowly headed 7th, led again next, ridden and joined when hit 2 out, headed and carried left after last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Lough Coi (10-7) at Lingfield 2m mdn chs (5) hvy in Jan.
Last Shot (FR) 11-4fav (10-11) Chased leaders, went 3rd after 12th, ridden before next, lost 3rd before 2 out, soon beaten and lost 4th flat, 5th of 8, 15l behind O'Callaghan Strand (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Jan.
Mut'ab (USA) 20-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, went 4th after 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 8, 29l behind Little Legend (11-7) at Folkestone 3m 2f nov hts chs (6) gd in May.
Le Grand Chene (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Led until 8th, weakened 5 out, behind when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Landenstown Star (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Upton Mead (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, weakened over 3f out, 9th of 11, 38l behind City Press (11-4) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
Achieved 25-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, ridden in modest 4th before 2 out, weakened to 5th flat, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Killimore Cottage (11-2) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan.
