Although he's been deserted by Harry Cobden, NARDARAN looks a particularly interesting contender off bottom weight with further improvement plausible. The selection was strong at the finish at Taunton and still has very low mileage, having raced only four times. His stablemates Sorceleur and Fasol seem more exposed but they are consistent and impossible to rule out. Progressive Serious Challenge (second choice) is on a roll and bids for a four-timer, while Kientzheim, John Barbour and Wolf Moon are bred to rate higher still.[Steve Boow]
Watch Live UK & Irish Racing
Simply place a bet of £5 or more on
any UK or Irish race to watch the action live!
Good fourth in the Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at Aintree is flanked by wins that were straightforward tasks; returns to deeper waters and concedes weight all round having gone up 15lb for penultimate effort.
Only 1-17 on Flat in Ireland but is building up a good strike-rate over hurdles for new stable; completed a hat-trick with Southwell success (2m) most recently, beating some of these rivals; improving.
Beat all bar a notable rival on hurdles debut; questionable whether he has improved in justifying favouritism twice since, all out at Huntingdon (2m) latest; however, has a smart pedigree and may do better still.
Useful on Flat and has a solid record (2122) over hurdles; penultimate effort in this sphere is a strong piece of form; however, rather lacks room for significant progress, having raced 41 times in total.
Two wins apiece on Flat and under this code, notably in 4yo Listed hurdle; subsequently ran well in substandard Adonis then had a straightforward task at Stratford; this assignment demands best form yet.
Made a winning debut over hurdles and has proved very consistent in defeat since, creditable third in Newbury handicap (2m) most recently; faces a stiffer task off same mark in this bigger prize.
Registered odds-on wins over hurdles in Scotland and the far north of England; respectable eighth when 28-1 for the Imperial Cup here last time but needs improvement in this similarly valuable race.
Ex-French mare who hasn't lived up to expectations in two starts since Kempton win and was behind some of these opponents last time; however, she's very nicely bred and may yet resume progress; not written off.
Two novice wins in November and generally consistent otherwise; ties in with some of these rivals on Sandown (Imperial Cup) and Southwell form the last twice; solid contender who should give his running.
Went close over C&D in November and ties in with a couple of these rivals on Imperial Cup running last time; has proved largely consistent but is the odd one out, being the only maiden in this field.
Solid operator, with form figures of 314 in bumpers and 212 over hurdles; ties in with some of these opponents on Southwell running last time; half-brother to smart Gidleigh Park and open to further progress.
Only 1-8 over hurdles but has a generally consistent record and two starts since wind surgery include the Taunton success (2m); French Flat form suggests he's capable of rating higher still in this sphere.
Juvenile hurdler whose progress culminated in a share of the spoils (dead-heated) at Cheltenham in December; limitations seemingly exposed since, never dangerous in the Fred Winter last time.
Juvenile hurdler who has failed to back up his Chepstow Grade 2 effort in two subsequent outings, turned over at short odds latest; has something to prove off his mark and is not a solid option.
Only four runs in total; galloped on strongly up the run-in at Taunton (2m) latest, opening his account; could well build on that emphatic win and show further improvement; interesting off bottom weight.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
