Verdict

THANKS FOR COMING made a winning return to action at Sandown last month when beating stablemate Kings Lodge. A useful claimer takes away a chunk of his 9lb rise in the weights and Nicky Henderson's hurdler can go in again. Distime makes his handicap debut having landed a novice event at Bangor in November and should give a good account, while Mark Twain posted a better effort at Ludlow last time and can also figure. John Forbes could finish closer after a recent outing over fences, but Falcun probably still has a bit to find on his second at Newcastle last month.

Formwatch

Auroras Encore (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Mid-division, outpaced 8th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 14th of 18, well behind Grands Crus (10-10) at Haydock 3m Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov '10.

Distime (IRE) 4-6fav (10-12) Tracked leaders on inside, driven to chase leading pair after 3 out, challenged next, soon led, driven clear flat, won at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating High Storm (10-7) by 2 3/4l, 18 ran.

Thanks For Coming 11-4fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, went 2nd after 6th, led last, driven flat, just held on, won at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Dec beating Kings Lodge (11-6) by shd, 9 ran.

Mark Twain (IRE) 11-4 (11-6) Led until approaching 6th, stayed handy, ridden 4 out, disputing close 2nd when mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 9, 4l behind All For Free (11-9) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.

John Forbes 20-1 (10-10) Hampered 1st, towards rear, outpaced 12th, mistake 4 out, never on terms, 5th of 11, 20l behind Fiendish Flame (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd.

Sendali (FR) 14-1 (11-9) In touch, ridden 4 out, soon well behind, 9th of 11, 31l behind Simonside (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.

Black Jacari (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Never better than mid-division, 16th of 19, 49l behind Novel Investment (11-1) at Galway 2m 4f hcp hdl 8Evens23 gd in Jul '10.

Scriptwriter (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden and lost place after 3rd, well behind 5th, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Achimota (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.

Falcun 6-1 (9-10) Disputed 2nd, pushed along from 3rd, lost place before 4 out, ridden before next, chased leading pair under pressure before 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Afsoun (11-2) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.