Champagne At Tara - (Wincanton, 13:40) 14/1 X Purchased for £110,000 prior to landing a Newton Abbot bumper in 2013. Brought along gradually over hurdles, catching the eye, and remains with plenty of potential now handicapping. Shortlisted.
Chidswell - (Sedgefield, 12:40) 0.71/1 2nd €33,000 3-y-o, fourth foal of a winning hurdler/chaser up to 3m. Impressive winner at Ayr in October and shaped well when third under penalty last time. Well up to winning a race like this.
Stellar Notion - (Kempton, 13:25) 4/1 Winner £140,000 purchase who made good start in light campaign last term, winning bumper and novice hurdle. Improved again when making winning chase bow at Leicester on return and looks one to follow.
Katgary - (Kempton, 13:25) 8/1 X Landed 2 juvenile events in France. Unlucky not to win the Fred Winter on first run for yard in March but has made an underwhelming start to this campaign at Aintree/Cheltenham. Chase debut.
Mosspark - (Wincanton, 14:15) 3/1 X Had great campaign over timber last term, and satisfactory start over fences when third to Sausalito Sunrise in novice at Chepstow (3m) in late-October. Obvious claims with that experience behind him.
Special Wells - (Wetherby, 15:30) 10/1 Winner Plenty of promise in a couple of bumpers last season, and though nowhere near that level in 3 outings over hurdles within 5 weeks, he rates the type to do better now handicapping.
Tea For Two - (Towcester, 13:00) 4/6 Winner Smart dual bumper winner who vercame inexperience to score on Kempton hurdling bow in October. Only third at Newbury (21f) last time, but claims nevertheless for all the drop in trip may not be ideal.
Mayfair Music - (Kempton, 14:50) NR Bumper winner who won first 2 starts over hurdles last winter. Might have needed run when only fourth on C&D reappearance a month ago and could easily get back on the up now.
Balder Succes - (Kempton, 13:40) 9/4 2nd Developed into a very smart chaser last term, winning 5 times, including a Grade 1 at Aintree in April, and has shaped well in defeat on all 3 starts since, fourth in the Tingle Creek last time.
Smiles For Miles - (Chepstow, 12:55) 4/1 3rd Much improved fitted with blinkers the last twice, easy winner of handicap chases over C&D and at Wetherby within the space of 6 days last month. Likely to make a bold bid to complete the hat-trick.
Deputy Dan - (Chepstow, 15:10) 7/2 3rd Duly built on promising chase debut when accounting for Far West at Plumpton (20f) in November. Laboured effort at Exeter last time, however, and questions to answer now handicapping in this sphere.
Simply Ned - (Leopardstown, 13:20) 9/1 3rd Fine weight-carrying performance when landing a handicap at Kelso on return in October. Creditable 1¾ lengths second to Uxizandre in a 6-runner listed contest at Cheltenham (2m, soft) since.
Grandouet - (Kempton, 13:10) X High-class hurdler in 2012 who is yet to produce anything like that level of form in this sphere, and looked a horse with problems when last of 7 back over timber at Aintree in April. Plenty to prove.
God's Own - (Kempton, 13:10) X Already a very smart chaser, winning a Grade 1 novice at Punchestown in May and November's Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, but he was well held in the Tingle Creek 3 weeks ago and needs to bounce back.
Un Atout - (Leopardstown, 13:20) 2/1 X Smart winner at 20f over hurdles. 5th of 7 in novice chase (5/6) at Punchestown (22f, good to soft) on debut over fences 21 days ago. Sure to progress.
Latest win in hurdle at Naas in January. Fell in Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (2/1) at Cheltenham (24f, good) won by Very Wood in March. Off 9 months. Open to improvement.
Lieutenant Colonel - (Leopardstown, 13:50) 4/1 Winner Won 5-runner Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, soft, 7/2) 28 days ago by 4 lengths from Jetson, sticking to task. open to further improvement.
Don Poli - (Leopardstown, 15:05) 5/2 Winner Smart winner at 24f over hurdles. Won 14-runner novice chase at Gowran (20f, heavy, 11/10) on debut over fences 37 days ago, kept up to work. Bold bid expected.
Blaklion - (Newbury, 14:10) 11/4 X Unbeaten in bumpers and scored at Perth/Chepstow on his first 2 starts over hurdles. Didn't need to improve to land his second Grade 2 event at Cheltenham earlier this month, and should go well again.
Comments
Purchased for £110,000 prior to landing a Newton Abbot bumper in 2013. Brought along gradually over hurdles, catching the eye, and remains with plenty of potential now handicapping. Shortlisted.
€33,000 3-y-o, fourth foal of a winning hurdler/chaser up to 3m. Impressive winner at Ayr in October and shaped well when third under penalty last time. Well up to winning a race like this.
£140,000 purchase who made good start in light campaign last term, winning bumper and novice hurdle. Improved again when making winning chase bow at Leicester on return and looks one to follow.
Landed 2 juvenile events in France. Unlucky not to win the Fred Winter on first run for yard in March but has made an underwhelming start to this campaign at Aintree/Cheltenham. Chase debut.
Had great campaign over timber last term, and satisfactory start over fences when third to Sausalito Sunrise in novice at Chepstow (3m) in late-October. Obvious claims with that experience behind him.
Plenty of promise in a couple of bumpers last season, and though nowhere near that level in 3 outings over hurdles within 5 weeks, he rates the type to do better now handicapping.
Smart dual bumper winner who vercame inexperience to score on Kempton hurdling bow in October. Only third at Newbury (21f) last time, but claims nevertheless for all the drop in trip may not be ideal.
Bumper winner who won first 2 starts over hurdles last winter. Might have needed run when only fourth on C&D reappearance a month ago and could easily get back on the up now.
Developed into a very smart chaser last term, winning 5 times, including a Grade 1 at Aintree in April, and has shaped well in defeat on all 3 starts since, fourth in the Tingle Creek last time.
Much improved fitted with blinkers the last twice, easy winner of handicap chases over C&D and at Wetherby within the space of 6 days last month. Likely to make a bold bid to complete the hat-trick.
Duly built on promising chase debut when accounting for Far West at Plumpton (20f) in November. Laboured effort at Exeter last time, however, and questions to answer now handicapping in this sphere.
Fine weight-carrying performance when landing a handicap at Kelso on return in October. Creditable 1¾ lengths second to Uxizandre in a 6-runner listed contest at Cheltenham (2m, soft) since.
High-class hurdler in 2012 who is yet to produce anything like that level of form in this sphere, and looked a horse with problems when last of 7 back over timber at Aintree in April. Plenty to prove.
Already a very smart chaser, winning a Grade 1 novice at Punchestown in May and November's Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, but he was well held in the Tingle Creek 3 weeks ago and needs to bounce back.
Smart winner at 20f over hurdles. 5th of 7 in novice chase (5/6) at Punchestown (22f, good to soft) on debut over fences 21 days ago. Sure to progress.
Won 5-runner Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, soft, 7/2) 28 days ago by 4 lengths from Jetson, sticking to task. open to further improvement.
Smart winner at 24f over hurdles. Won 14-runner novice chase at Gowran (20f, heavy, 11/10) on debut over fences 37 days ago, kept up to work. Bold bid expected.
Reigning English/Irish Champion Hurdler. C&D winner. Creditable 2¼ lengths 2nd of 5 to Hurricane Fly in Morgiana Hurdle (8/13) at Punchestown (16f, soft) 43 days ago.
Unbeaten in bumpers and scored at Perth/Chepstow on his first 2 starts over hurdles. Didn't need to improve to land his second Grade 2 event at Cheltenham earlier this month, and should go well again.