GENERAL PICTON has finished down the field on all of his starts in hurdle contests and there is the potential that he could take a fair step forward on his handicap debut on his first start over fences. A first-time tongue-tie also looks likely to bring about improvement. Free Range was an easy winner at Kelso by 10 lengths on his latest start and is respected along with Blagapar, who was second here over 3m last time.

BLAGAPAR is due to go up 5 lb for his fine effort on his chasing bow here last week and could be hard to beat if building on that. Free Range could be the danger for a new yard having won at Kelso last month.