Verdict

Soudain has only gone up 4lb since winning the Lincolnshire National on Boxing Day and Paul Bohan takes off 7lb again. He should be in the shake-up here while Nodform Richard arrives off the back of a win over this trip at Carlisle. Whistling Senator was showing his first sign of form over fences when a half-length second at Wetherby and is another to consider but Toby Belch may need this and Ebony River is still a maiden under Rules, though has shown promise in the past. CIVIL UNREST tries a new trip after disappointing in his last couple of runs but should stay and could be worth another chance if able to recapture the form he showed when landing a beginners' chase at Musselburgh in November.

Formwatch

Toby Belch (IRE) 3-1 (10-13) In touch, mistake 7th, 4th and one pace 2 out, no extra, 5th of 8, 6l behind Trigger The Light (11-6) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.

Soudain (FR) 7-2 (10-11) Keen close up, chased leader 4th, joined leader 13th, led 16th, ridden and joined 2out, driven and stayed on gamely, won at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec beating Overyou (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.

Whistling Senator (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 4 out, challenged 2 out, every chance last, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Thorncliffer (9-7) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.

Civil Unrest (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Led, headed 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression when lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 5, 9l behind Father Shine (10-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.

Nodform Richard 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, rallied 2 out, every chance last, stayed on under pressure to lead close home, all out, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec beating Dystonia's Revenge (10-10) by 3/4l, 7 ran.

Ebony River (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Towards rear, hit 1st, steady headway 6 out, weakened from 3 out, 4th of 8, 17l behind Cloudy Too (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 4f beg chs (3) hvy in Nov.