A tricky race to assess given the lack of pointing form publicly available, but if MENCHIKOV is capable of running to anything like its official BHA mark of 138 then he will be very hard to beat here, while Hartburn will be full of confidence from some excellent recent pointing form and might make the frame in what is a poor race. The selection will appreciate this ground and has twice won under rules over trips further than this. He should have enough abiltiy to set his own pace here and can make it a test of stamina and score. Hartburn will act on the going and has been a revelation in points, and while she should have the measure of most here it will be a surprise if she can overhaul the selection. Itzacliche is unproven on ground this slow, which will be a concern for potential backers, but he stays well and the yard is in form so is not totally ruled out. It is genuinely difficult to enthuse about anything else here and the market will probably be a better guide than a wild stab in the dark. Menchikov is taken to score.
Itzacliche (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway on outside 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Roznic (11-8) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Menchikov (FR) 2-1 (12-7) Held up; qcknd to chall 16; led app nxt; stayed on str, won at Point To Point 3m ptp gd beating Network Oscar (12-4) by 6l, 8 ran.
Smart Cavalier 7-1 (10-11) Took keen hold, held up in touch, jumped slowly 4 out, weakened 3 out, mistake last, 8th of 13, 40l behind Fieldsofclover (10-4) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jun.
Barry The Cracker 7-2 (11-12) Led til hdd & wknd app 3 out; pulled up in race won by Broxparisboulevard (11-12) at Hexham Points 2m 4f ptp gd in May, 10 ran.
Benny Boy (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Mistake 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 7, well behind Messager (11-7) at Hexham 3m 1f mdn hts chs (5) hvy in May.
Bilingual 10-1 (12-0) A handy; prsd ldr 15; led & unseated rider in race won by Holy Joe (12-0) at Friars Haugh 3m ptp gd in Jan, 8 ran.
Ideal du Bois Beury (FR) 14-1 (10-1) Tracked leader, hit 4th, 5th and in touch when brought down at the 9th in race won by Ton-Chee (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar '07, 10 ran.
My Final Bid (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) In touch, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 35l behind Mensio (10-3) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec '07.
Cupid's Mission (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Behind, struggling halfway, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind More Likely (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Hartburn 1-5fav (11-12) A.p; led 11-12; led 14; unchall, won at Aspatria 3m ptp gf in May beating Seafire Lad (12-5) by 20l, 3 ran.
Shanteen Lass (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Lost tch 14; pulled up in race won by Pristine Condition (12-0) at Sheriff Hutton 3m ptp sft in Jan, 11 ran.
