Verdict

Charlie Deutsch takes over the reins from a claimer on TOP AND DROP and the nine-year-old, who rattled up a hat-trick around this time last year, may have improved enough from a reappearance at Hereford to land this. Venetia Williams also runs Snuff Box, who is starting to slip down the handicap but was beaten when falling at Exeter recently. Never Learn was never travelling over hurdles here last month but that will have blown away a few cobwebs while Broadclyst looks to be improving and will again be helped by Bryan Carver’s claim. Holdbacktheriver has become very disappointing, however.

Formwatch

Snuff Box (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Raced wide in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 7th, hit 12th, losing place when fell 5 out, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.

Broadclyst (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Soon in touch, ridden into 2nd before 3 out, challenged between last 2, kept on and every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 11, nk behind Worthy Farm (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.

Top And Drop 9-1 (11-12) Always prominent, joined winner 14th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 10, 21 1/4l behind Longhousesignora (10-12) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.

Holdbacktheriver (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Never better than mid-division, behind from 12th, weakened after 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.

Never Learn (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Mid-division, pushed along after 2nd, hampered and behind before next, some headway under pressure after 3 out, never going pace to challenge, left modest 4th next, 4th of 10, 33 1/2l behind Lightly Squeeze (11-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.