First choice has to be EATON ANNE, a freakish winner at Uttoxeter last time out. The wind surgery may well have played a part but the way he picked up late in the day suggests he can prove better than his revised mark, and it was no disincentive for today's longer trip. Handicap newcomer Kalhandrion would have received the vote in many other circumstances, on the strength of the promise he showed two starts back, while Cast's Tasha is an in-form candidate and Ilot de L'Isle won his last two starts in France, albeit in 2022.[Richard Austen]
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Not the force of old, and inconsistent with it; won at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft) in September and second at Haydock (2m3f, heavy) on penultimate outing, claimer ridden in both, but there are more appealing options.
Heavy defeats switched to chasing this term, with tongue tied last time and cheekpieces added today; that equipment hints at risks but his two runs over hurdles leading into that (about 2m4f in the mud) read pretty well, so he's given a second look on his return to this discipline.
Dam half-sister to several above-average winners, notably Domaine De L'isle (useful 2m2f-3m6f chase); impressive French bumper winner (1m7f, good) who justified favouritism on hurdles debut at Strasbourg (2m2f, heavy) in November 2022; makes a belated British debut (withdrawn twice in April 2023) but it will be interesting to see if there's any market support.
Down the weights for his narrow C&D win (soft; more to prove on heavy) in December and similar form when second at Fakenham after a 5lb rise; needs better to win this contest but there is some hope from his best efforts in previous seasons.
Won at Ffos Las (2m6f, soft) in November and good second at Sandown (2m4f, heavy) 17 days later, both from off the pace; that cracking start to this campaign demands plenty of respect.
Improved with his 100-1 fourth of 11 from off the pace in maiden at Warwick (2m5f, good to soft) in December; did not show much on latest outing but that was facing a stiff task in Cheltenham maiden; tongue-tie goes on for this handicap debut and he might just resume his progress.
Quirky customer who can race too freely; acts on soft, bit more to prove on heavy; well handicapped on old form, including one run last January, and his C&D fifth on latest outing suggested he can't be totally ruled out.
Irish maiden point winner; disappointed on fourth start over hurdles but had wind surgery soon afterwards and returned with a pretty astounding performance to win 11-runner handicap debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft; favourite) one month ago, held up and outpaced 4f out, still way off the pace two out, before eating up the ground to score in eventually clearcut style; this trip could help; up 6lb but surely a good chance he's better than that.
