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Off time: 15:58 | Winning time: 6m 43.70s

Musique De Fee^p¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Joshua Bryan| T: G Nicholls| OR: 102

5/1

Arrives in good nick, doubling her career tally with a dominant display after just 6 days off at Hereford (25.5f, good) 12 days ago. Hit hard with an 11 lb rise but she may have a bit more yet to offer as a thorough stayer so is shortlisted.

Form: 44P431

Malago Rose^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 101

6/1

Beaten a fair way on return/debut for new yard at Ludlow in November but back to winning ways in 7-runner Fakenham handicap (23.4f, soft) on New Year's Day. Ran poorly next time, but back on song when second at Plumpton last month, just taking a tad too long to hit top gear.

Form: 155142

Born In The West¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 100

6/5

Found improvement since sent handicapping, putting up a complete performance to open his account in 8-runner handicap at Catterick (19.3f, good to firm) just over 2 weeks ago. 4 lb higher here and hiked significantly up in trip, he's sure to have more to offer.

Form: 583221

The Wise Traveller¹⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 96

20/1

Scored at Fakenham in April but both efforts following 3 months off at Southwell/Hereford in October were poor. Handicapper relinquishes his grip (now 2 lb below last winning mark) but may well need this returning from a break.

Form: 7-42677

Maura Jeanne^t³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Alan Doyle⁽³⁾| T: I A Duncan| OR: 95

11/2

Finally off the mark at Kelso (3¼m) in October and proved better than ever after 11 weeks off when doubling her tally in 13-runner handicap at Ayr (24.3f, soft) last month. Up 8 lb for that and needs to prove she can back it up.

Form: F51471

Ocean Legacy^b³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 83| BF| CD

11/2

Dual chase winner who finally got the job done over hurdles (and snapped a losing run stretching back to May 2023 in the process) when landing a C&D handicap last month. Said to have bled at Southwell 12 days later (failed to see her race out) so needs to bounce back.

Form: 43PP1P

Non-Runners

Rumble B²³

Weight: 10-13| Age: 11

T: Justin Landy J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Born In The West (6/5), Musique De Fee (5/1), Ocean Legacy (11/2), Maura Jeanne (11/2), Malago Rose (6/1), Rumble B (8/1), The Wise Traveller (20/1)

A tricky staying contest to solve but the vote goes to BORN IN THE WEST, who put up a complete performance to open his account at Catterick just over 2 weeks ago and this significant step up in trip could unlock further improvement. Heading up the dangers is Musique de Fee, who bolted up at Hereford earlier this month and may have more to offer as a thorough stayer. Another last-time-out winner Maura Jeanne rounds off the shortlist.