This drop back in trip looks the right move for GRAND VOYAGE, who was probably stretched by 3m when below form here last month. He's now only 1lb higher than for his 2m4f Ayr win two starts ago and the forecast rain ought to aid his cause. 2022 winner Follow Your Arrow gave a good account off a much reduced mark here five weeks ago and is second choice, while Toombridge did not run badly at Cartmel a fortnight ago and also makes the shortlist.[Chris Wilson]
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Regressive 11yo; returned from layoff with two disappointing runs in February and absent for another 101 days since but will be favoured by the forecast rain here and is too well handicapped to rule out.
Probably a shade fortunate when winning at Ayr (2m4f, soft) in March but is only 1lb higher here and this C&D also suits him; not seen to best effect over 3m on good ground here last month but today's drop back in trip, combined with the forecast rain, makes him of interest.
Very lightly raced for his age but was badly out of form for this stable when last seen in 2023-24 season and returns from 426-day absence with a lot to prove.
Just 1-12 over hurdles and not particularly consistent; makes chasing debut from a workable mark and has some Irish pointing experience to call upon but was soundly beaten in first-time cheekpieces (retained) in April and is not an easy one to predict; tongue-tie refitted today.
Two chase wins last season, the latter over C&D (good to soft) in March; only 3lb above that mark now but never really got involved here last month and will clearly need a more dynamic performance today.
Started off for Andrew Hamilton with three heavy defeats but last month's third at Perth (3m, good) was a big step back in the right direction; may benefit from today's drop back in trip and can cope if there's rain about; contender if able to build on that recent effort.
Maiden pointer; showed no significant promise in three novice/maiden hurdles this year but makes chase/handicap debut from lowly mark and may improve for the switch to fences; cheekpieces (worn for last two races) removed.
Unplaced all six hurdling starts; didn't run badly when fourth of seven over C&D (good) on last month's chasing debut but needs to find something extra today.
Yet to add to his win in this race in 2022 but arrested his decline with a pretty good C&D (good) third last month and remains on the same career-low mark; also has form on soft ground; shortlisted.
Belied 100-1 odds when placed here (3m, good) in April, his second start for Hugh Burns; holds obvious each-way claims if able to replicate that form over 2m4f but his overall strike-rate is now 0-30.
Posted some good efforts when cheekpieces were added towards the end of last season, perhaps most notably when second at Kelso (2m4f, good) in April, and his run at Cartmel (2m5f, good to soft) a fortnight ago was much better than eventual 33l defeat suggests; one to consider.
Won off a lowly mark over C&D in May 2023 but has not shown a great deal since returning from a long absence this year (four runs) and makes very limited appeal from 7lb out of the weights.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
