Odds of 7-1 are tempting for a Badger Beer contender who should be favourite

Plenty of trainers will be lamenting the lack of recent rain in Britain and holding back on unleashing their winter jumpers as a consequence. 

However, they cannot bemoan the quick ground for Saturday's Badger Beer (3.30) as such conditions for Wincanton's annual highlight regularly prevail. The 2022 running landed in memorable style by Frodon even had the word 'firm' in the going description. 

Anthony Honeyball seems likely to have a say in this season's race as he is responsible for five of the 16 entries, for all the waters are muddied as none has a jockey booking at the time of writing on Tuesday evening.