Very solid record over fences this season and kept on well to open his account over C&D (good to soft) in first-time cheekpieces last month; drops from 0-130 grade and is only 3lb higher today; strongly respected.
0-8 over fences but hasn't been with current stable long and lost out only narrowly in small field at Wetherby (3m, good) in November; ran well for a long way when fourth in Market Rasen marathon on Boxing Day and ought to make his presence felt again here.
2-5 for new trainer, with both wins gained over 2m4f at Musselburgh (good to soft/soft); latest 7lb rise asks quite a lot of him but he's unexposed over 3m and evidently in very good nick.
Pulled up on seasonal debut in November but stuck to his task pretty well when second on next two outings (2m4f/2m5f) and looks well worth another crack at 3m; Harry Cobden rides today; one to consider.
Not beaten far when fourth of six at Market Rasen (3m, good) last summer, his second start for Nick Kent, but his next two runs (chase/hurdle) were very disappointing; returns from 113-day break with quite a bit to prove.
Has very mixed record over fences but won in first-time cheekpieces at Bangor (3m, good) last summer and returned to form with creditable third at Taunton (2m7f, good to soft; first run after a wind op) last month; contender if all goes to plan here.
Pulled up on five of his six starts in 2024; showed some zest when ridden very positively in first-time blinkers (retained) at Huntingdon (2m4f, good to soft) this month but was well held in the end and remains a risky option.
Close third at Ludlow (3m, good) on chasing debut in October, in a race that has worked out well; tailed off on next outing and managed only a respectable fifth (behind Exmoor Forest) at Taunton (2m7f, good to soft) last month but that Ludlow form keeps her in the equation.
Five-time chase winner, most recently off 10lb higher over C&D (soft) last March; looked out of sorts when last seen in the autumn, though, and needs two-month break to have done him good.
Made all in two chases for Sandy Thomson (2m7f/3m) in early part of last year but left that stable after a lacklustre performance in November and weakened into a modest third at Carlisle (3m2f, soft) for new trainer last month; others have more pressing claims.
Dual winner at Huntingdon last season (2m7f, good to soft/soft), latterly off today's mark, but has been at best on any of three starts this term, including when returned to Huntingdon last time, and may not be ideally suited by this left-handed track.
0-5 in chases and 0-13 overall; split two progressive rivals when second at Fakenham (3m, good) in October and has claims if judged on that performance but his subsequent third of five at Sedgefield (3m2f, good) was a bit disappointing; cheekpieces removed after one use.
Kept on well to win at Southwell (3m, soft) on New Year's Day and is now 3-14 over fences; only 2lb higher here but probably needs a career-best performance in this stronger race.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
