| No. |
|
Selection |
Form |
|
Guide |
|
|
|
- Heaven Smart
- Freddie Mitchell / G & J Moore
|
|
117
|
5/1 |
Heaven Smart
Now 9lb lower than when winning over fences at Kempton (3m, soft) last season but has been out of form over hurdles and fences in recent months and needs to turn a corner; refitted blinkers the headgear of choice today.
|
|
|
|
- Hobb's Delight
- C O'Farrell / N P Mulholland
|
|
102
|
4/1 |
Hobb's Delight
Did not fire at Uttoxeter last month and is now 0-5 over fences but his clear second at Catterick (3m1f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) two starts ago was a good effort and he'll be suited by the forecast good ground here.
|
|
|
|
- Leading Swoop
- Harry Kimber / R Walford
|
|
107
|
4/1 |
Leading Swoop
Placed here four consecutive times this season, most recently when runner-up in first-time blinkers three weeks ago (2m5f, heavy); not certain to be suited by today's different trip-and-ground combination but still features prominently in calculations.
|
|
|
|
- Getupearly
- M G Nolan / P Hobbs & J White
|
|
107
|
15/8 |
Getupearly
Ended 2024 with two below-par efforts and is now 0-16 under rules but second twice in the autumn (once over C&D) and returns from 11-week break on a good mark; had another wind op (his second) in January.
|
|
|
|
- Ultra Viers
- Harry Bannister / P Taylor
|
|
104
|
40/1 |
Ultra Viers
Former pointer/hunter chaser who has struggled in two slow-ground Leicester handicaps (both 2m4f) since returning last month from a layoff; returning to good ground may aid his cause but he still has a lot to prove.
|
|
|
|
- Nordic Storm
- Brendan Powell / J Tizzard
|
|
52
|
14/1 |
Nordic Storm
Not fully exposed after only eight runs but unplaced all seven hurdling starts before struggling on last month's chasing debut (bled from the nose); leap of faith is required to support him here.
|
|
|
|
- Delgany Monarch
- N F Houlihan / R Rowe
|
|
112
|
22/1 |
Delgany Monarch
Regressive 10yo who struggled to get competitive on first two appearance this season (one over C&D on good); tried in first-time cheekpieces on this first start for 98 days; needs to prove some ability remains.
|
|
|
|
- Elpologreg
- Ellis Collier / J W Mullins
|
|
106
|
3/1 |
Elpologreg
Placed twice over 2m5f on heavy ground here this season and is effectively on a lower mark from only 1lb out of the handicap today, but others in the line-up look stronger all the same; seems okay on good ground but has stamina to prove over 3m2f.
|
