This strong field can be led home by hat-trick seeking HUNTER LEGEND (nap) who looks well worth the step up in trip and class. With soft ground posing more of a question for the otherwise appealing The Kniphand, the chief threat may come from Richmond Lake after his big run in the Peter Marsh, but Brave Kingdom and Monbeg Genius can also go well.[Richard Austen]
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Familiar big-race contender who's not been at his best this season but still managed second over an extended 3m1f at Haydock and 13l fourth in the Welsh National at Chepstow (near 3m7f, soft); cheekpieces (tried once last term, pulled up) return; dropped another 2lb and respected but he probably needs to be back in peak form.
Competitive for minor honours off today's mark on all three starts this term, last time showing he stays 3m1f when third in the Peter Marsh at Haydock (soft); should get seriously involved again.
More miss than hit over the last year or so, his good runs when fourth over about 2m4f at Cheltenham and Punchestown; partial revival with the addition of cheekpieces three weeks ago and now his usual tongue-tie returns; 12lb below his peak mark but he's unraced beyond 2m6f under rules.
Long absence before winning two five-runner handicaps late in 2023 when switched to chasing, latterly over an extended 2m7f at Newbury (soft); something amiss last February but he went well long way when reappearing at Newbury (3m2f) six weeks ago and looks a player if that has put him right.
Won his only start on soft but has performed to a higher level on better ground since, notably on all three starts this season; that includes when he won well over about 3m in small fields at Southwell (good) and Doncaster (good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) and going up another 4lb since latest start may underestimate him.
2-11 over fences, with seconds at Haydock (2m, heavy) and Wetherby (2m4f, soft) on his two starts this season; faded last March when well beaten on his only attempt at 3m, so stamina poses a big question.
Won two in a row last March and resumed improvement this winter on his last three starts, on last two occasions scoring at Leicester over 2m4f and an extended 2m6f; three of those wins were on soft, one on heavy; had to see off a determined challenge from his market rival last time (up 5lb today) and now looks well worth a crack at 3m.
Irish challenger; raced usually at Fairyhouse, the scene of four of his five wins; scored on soft over 3m2f and 3m4f last season, whereas he's been well beaten on both starts this term and seems to have a tough British mark.
Respectable third twice over 3m/3m1f in December; showed last season that he stays a good deal further than this but he was well below form over the extended 3m5f at Bangor yesterday.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
