The three more exposed contenders are not wholly convincing one way or another, whereas Seeyouinmydreams and PALACIO will both want the lead to themselves and the risk of a resultant pace battle is not to be underestimated. The latter is marginally preferred on handicap debut, as the less likely of the two to reprise previous free-going tendencies. His mark looks workable next to the RPR of last autumn's C&D novice success, too. [Jeremy Grayson]
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Winless since the 2022 Betfair Hurdle and no certainty what to expect following an up and down 2024-25 campaign, but he has his lowest mark since May 2021 to exploit here; no ground issues.
Didn't go on from a good chasing debut in November; very little in hand of this 5lb higher mark than for last April's Sandown novices' handicap hurdle final win (2m, good), but trip and grade more in his favour than the Aintree Grade 3 of last time, at least.
Soon dealt with once headed at Ffos Las 19 days ago (2m, good to soft; debuted hood retained), but that ought to have knocked the freshness off him; accommodating mark next to the RPR for October's all-the-way C&D novice success (soft), and he's firmly in the mix on handicap debut.
Four rules wins, including in an Exeter class 4 this month (2m1f, good), have each been gained making all despite a seemingly incurable refusal to settle; 5lb rise and better race demand more, and Palacio will want a piece of the lead also, but stamina to spare as a 2m4f-3m winner.
Bombed in a Warwick chase when last seen, and although all three wins have been gained when fresh, none of those absences were of this 349-day magnitude; career-low mark today, but yet to land any sort of handicap.
1/4 Odds Place 1,2
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
