Verdict

The step up to 3m may well suit useful Flat stayer Aaim To Prosper and he has to go on the short-list in his first handicap over hurdles. His stamina will certainly be tested as former Hennessy Gold Cup winner Carruthers will attack from the front. Barafundle and Powerful Ambition are rarely far away and Lord Wishes is an improving young hurdler who was only beaten half-a-length when trying 3m1f at Musselburgh last month. The mare Beyeh has been knocking on the door but Harvey's Hope couldn't pick up over course and distance 10 days ago and Keith Reveley may have more of a chance with CUE TO CUE. It may not pay to take the form of her second to Peddlers Cross at Kelso too literally but she'd won easily at Southwell in November and a first try over 3m is a natural progression. She may still be well handicapped.

Formwatch

Carruthers 6-1 (10-8) Pressed leader, led 5th, headed 8th, led 11th, headed 13th, led again next, clear 2 out, edged right flat, held on gamely, won at Ffos Las 3m 4f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb beating Cannington Brook (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.

Barafundle (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Close 5th, headway to 2nd 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace run-in, no impression on winner, outpaced to 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 18, 5l behind Master Of The Sea (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Feb.

Aaim To Prosper (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Chased leader, outpaced 4 out, rallied 2 out, stayed on well, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Up And Go (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (2) sft in Feb.

Cockney Trucker (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) With leader, lost place 8th, towards rear when fell 2 out, in a race won by At Fishers Cross (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec, 12 ran.

Lord Wishes (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Tracked leaders on inside, pecked 9th, went 2nd last, edged right and stayed on well towards finish, just held, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Superior Quality (11-4) at Musselburgh 3m nov hdl (3) gs in Feb.

Harvey's Hope 8-1 (11-4) In rear, headway before 2 out, went 6th before last, never dangerous, 5th of 16, 12l behind Doctor Foxtrot (10-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.

Powerful Ambition (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 7th, led before 3 out, edged right before last, soon ridden, headed run-in, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Hada Men (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.

Eagle Rock (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st or 6th, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Ely Brown (9-10) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl (2) sft in Oct.

Cue To Cue 13-2 (10-7) In rear and in touch, slightly outpaced from 4 out, went 3rd before last, kept on to chase winner run-in, always held towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Peddlers Cross (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 6f hdl (2) gd in Feb.

Ogee 25-1 (11-0) Towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, outpaced over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 5l behind Sam Winner (11-0) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.

Beyeh (IRE) 3-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, hit 3 out, soon pushed along, led 2 out, ridden run-in, headed towards finish, well held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Thunderstorm (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.

The Fonz 7-1 (11-5) Held up in touch in 4th, pushed along over 2f out, weakened 1f out, 5th of 8, 12l behind Foster's Road (10-8) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.

Possol (FR) 40-1 (11-3) Held up in mid-division, ridden 8th, behind 13th, tailed off 15th, pulled up after, in a race won by Balthazar King (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gs in Oct, 19 ran.