Verdict

ROMAIN DE SENAM ran a superb race in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham, just failing to get past stable companion Diego Du Charmil. He's only had two starts over fences and, as a five-year-old, looks to have a future over the bigger obstacles. He can take care of Ultragold, the winner of a Class 2 handicap at Newbury and very highly tried in two subsequent starts. Pearls Legend won a better grade handicap than this at Cheltenham just over a year ago and continued to perform at a high level though he ran poorly on his reappearance at Ascot in November. Oscar Sunset won on heavy ground at Chepstow a year ago but hasn't gone on as expected and Irish Thistle is 7lb out of the handicap.

Formwatch

Ultragold (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, weakened 5 out, 6th of 7, dist behind Aso (11-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.

Pearls Legend 6-1 (11-9) Chased leader, led 5th, not fluent 4 out, headed before next, weakened 2 out, last of 7, dist behind Raven's Tower (11-1) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.

Romain De Senam (FR) 7-2 (10-12) Raced keenly, tracked leading pair, left 2nd 9th, pushed along before 2 out, no impression when lost 2nd at the last, ridden edged left and and weakened run-in, 3rd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Icing On The Cake (10-3) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.

Oscar Sunset (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Led until blundered and headed 2nd (water), tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, blundered next, lost 2nd approaching 5th, outpaced before 4 out, soon lost touch, tailed off, last of 3, 28 3/4l behind Le Prezien (11-3) at Exeter 2m 1f (2) sft in Dec.

Irish Thistle (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Tracked winner until 13th, chased leaders, weakening when mistake 4 out, pulled up soon after, at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.