Front-runner who was a neck runner-up to Nells Son in this last year (soft) and won easily at Windsor (2m, soft) next time; ran really well in Grade 2 Shloer Chase at Cheltenham (2m, soft) last month prior to bad blunder at the final fence and he's a major player off just 1lb higher than at Windsor.
Won the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March 2024 (2m, soft) and runner-up in that same race last season (good to soft); returned to form when second at Carlisle (2m, soft) four weeks ago and he might not be far away.
Two wins last season (2m4f/2m3f, good to soft/good) and he's continued the good work this autumn, winning at Chepstow (2m3f, good to firm) then runner-up in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter (2m1f, good); also effective on soft ground; has a progressive profile and he's entitled to respect.
Two handicap wins in cheekpieces earlier this year (2m, soft/good to soft) and he ran well before fading into seventh in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) last month; this 6yo could have more to offer now back down in trip and is firmly in calculations; cheekpieces return.
10yo who was better than ever last season and runs off the same mark as when winning this last year (soft); reappeared with respectable fifth over hurdles at Carlisle and this four-time course winner is high on the list.
Two-time course winner who dropped to a mark 13lb lower than when third in this last year (soft; albeit no match for Nells Son and Matata); however, this 10yo has looked regressive more recently and something of a turnaround is necessary in first-time cheekpieces.
Beaten nine times since his last win in February 2024 but he's run some good races in the interim and has dropped to a dangerous mark; has won here three times and his last two wins have come on heavy going; chance.
2-2 in handicap chases, those wins coming at Ayr (2m, soft) in January; faced very tough task in graduation chase on last month's comeback at Carlisle and this unexposed 7yo could go well now back in a handicap, even from 2lb wrong at the weights.
Won at Punchestown in June but went off the boil on final few runs for Gavin Cromwell and he was tailed off on his stable debut over C&D in October; wind surgery since; this looks tough from 4lb out of the handicap.
