Ben Pauling is enjoying an outstanding season after moving stables and Slipway has every chance for the yard here. The Stowaway gelding defied an absence of over 200 days to score quite neatly at Fontwell in November and stays this trip well. He enjoys a 50 percent strike rate over fences but probably would not want conditions to worsen and his now asked to operate off a career-high mark. SOUTHFIELD HARVEST pulled up in that Fontwell contest but that wasn't his true running and he was far from disgraced next time at Class 2 level at Chepstow. He's normally reliable and appeals off a mark of 130. Trixster looks a danger to all off a decent mark and with stamina assured, whilst Coeur Serein and Butterwick Brook are also possible in what should prove quite a slog.
Coeur Serein (IRE) 11-2 (12-0) Mid-division, ridden after 13th, hit 4 out and tailed off, 8th of 9, 30 1/4l behind Senior Citizen (11-6) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Slipway (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead approaching omitted final fence, stayed on strongly run-in, won at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Premiumaccess (10-2) by 3 1/4l, 11 ran.
Moroder (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) Never closer than mid-division, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Copperhead 7-1 (11-4) Held up, ridden and headway 3 out, kept on but no threat, 4th of 11, 21 1/4l behind Steal A March (11-3) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Southfield Harvest 9-2 (10-2) Towards rear, headway to chase front rank 9th, pushed along home turn, mistake and ridden 4 out, soon beaten, 4th of 10, 11l behind Farinet (10-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Fuji Flight (FR) 6-1 (12-0) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Red Happy (FR) 18-1 (11-7) In rear and struggling when pulled up before 15th, at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Trixster (IRE) 9-2 (11-13) Screwed 1st, chased leaders on inside, hit 10th, awkward at 12th, went 2nd before 3 out, led next, soon ridden, headed last, one pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Some Detail (11-9) at Taunton 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Butterwick Brook (IRE) 7-2jfav (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden along before 4 out, plugged on into third before 2 out, no match for first two, 3rd of 8, 21 1/2l behind Don Alvaro (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gf in Nov.
D'jango (FR) 22-1 (10-4) In rear of mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, soon ridden along, kept on well to go third towards finish, no match for first two, 3rd of 11, 5 3/4l behind Atakan (10-8) at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Abaya Du Mathan (FR) 150-1 (10-2) Led, headed after 15th, pushed along next, weakened quickly, pulled up, at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
