Nigel Twiston-Davies has his team in great form at present so his runner Ollie Magern has to be respected on his attempt to win this race for the third time in four years but his overall form leaves him with a bit to find with TURKO who is taken to make a winning return for Paul Nicholls, with the main threat rated as State of Play. Evan Williams is more than capable of producing a horse fit after an absence so lack of a recent run need not be of concern for the gelding who meets Ollie Magern on 16lbs better terms than 12 months ago. Monkerhostin also has a good chance of reversing running from last year and he makes more appeal than Snoopy Loopy, who has shown progressive form during the summer but may find this tougher. Preference then is for Turko, who was pulled up lame after the first 12 months ago but showed progressive form over fences after that eventually finishing third in the Ryanair Chase before falling in the Grand National. Sure to be ready for his reappearance, Turko is taken to make a winning return.
Ollie Magern 50-1 (11-9) Led, mistake 5th, ridden after 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 14, 33l behind An Accordion (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Monkerhostin (FR) 25-1 (10-13) Mid-division, steady headway from 17th, chased leading pair 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, stayed on strongly flat, won at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr beating Royal Auclair (9-7) by 2 1/2l, 19 ran.
Snoopy Loopy (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) With leader, led 3rd, blundered and headed 7th, pushed along approaching 11th, mistake last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Knowhere (10-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Oct.
Turko (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Mid-division when fell at the 25th in race won by Comply Or Die (10-9) at Aintree 4m 4f Grand National (1) gd in Apr, 40 ran.
Hard Act To Follow (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division, lost place 9th, behind when blundered next and pulled up 4 out in race won by Rayshan (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb, 12 ran.
State of Play 14-1 (11-5) Prominent, chased winner from 14th until 4 out, soon weakened, 11th of 17, well behind Oedipe (10-4) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Love That Benny (USA) 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, 10th of 15, well behind Always Waining (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Sept.
