Upwardly mobile 5yo who followed a C&D win (good ground) with a convincing success in the Greatwood at Cheltenham (soft) two weeks later; improving at a rate of knots and high on the list despite a 13lb rise in the weights from Cheltenham.
Lightly raced 4yo; won at Wetherby (2m, soft) last winter on first outing for new connections and ran a cracker when 6l second of 13 in Grade 1 event at Aintree (2m1f, good to soft) in April; will need another personal best to make a successful handicap debut after over eight months off but he has stacks of potential and it's certainly possible.
Best effort when winning Grade 2 Persian War Novices' Hurdle at Chepstow (2m3f, good; hooded) in October with smart turn of foot; ended up with too much to do when third in similar event at Haydock (1m7f, good to soft) next time; tackles a handicap for the first time and not dismissed lightly.
Impressive winner of major handicap at Newbury (2m, soft) last February; beaten favourite in two runs over fences this season, making the odd mistake; no surprise to see her back over hurdles but she'll need a career best off a 17lb higher mark than at Newbury.
4-10 over hurdles and made a pleasing return from over five months off when third of nine at Chepstow (2m, good) in October; reliable and likely to be in the thick of things again.
Won this race last year on good to soft ground off 7lb lower; disappointing in warm races on his next two starts but he shaped much better when fifth of 18 to Alexei in the Greatwood at Cheltenham on reappearance; may well come on for that run and he's an interesting contender back at Ascot.
Veteran but retains plenty of ability and he stepped up a good deal on his reappearance run when third to Alexei in the Greatwood at Cheltenham five weeks ago; Heidi Palin keeps the ride; could make the frame again but others appeal more for the win.
Has plenty of solid form in big fields and chased home clearcut winner Alexei in the Greatwood at Cheltenham (2m, soft; 14-1) last month; 9lb better off with the winner and has obvious each-way claims again.
Yet another in this field to finish behind Alexei in the Greatwood last time, in his case rallying into fourth after making the running; he wasn't beaten far in the Scottish Champion Hurdle in the spring but others have more potential.
Might have won the Imperial Cup at Sandown (2m, good to soft) in March but for bungling the final flight, and he possibly failed to stay 2m4f at Aintree next time; still has untapped potential and he's well worth considering on his reappearance off just a 2lb higher mark than at Sandown.
Ended a losing sequence at Windsor (2m, good to soft) last month when well handled by 7lb claimer Isabelle Ryder, but he's gone back up 5lb and faces much stronger opposition here.
Useful Flat racer; 0-4 over hurdles but he was highly tried last season and bumped into a promising type when second in novice at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) on reappearance, the pair pulling well clear; does not look overburdened on handicap debut and he commands major respect.
Ended first hurdles campaign with good fourth in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft); however, not at his best in three runs since, well held back over hurdles at Newbury three weeks ago; more to prove than most.
1/4 Odds Place 1,2,3,4
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
