There's unlikely to be any hanging about with Keep Running in attendance and the Ludlow winner is second choice. However, TRIPLE TRADE is accustomed to keeping better company than this and there was enough to take out of his Cheltenham run to believe he's ready to exploit a good mark. Beat Box continues to surprise and Ostrava Du Berlais goes up in grade with the wind in her sails.[Alistair Jones]
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Has a fighting chance on the best of last season's form, notably a near miss at Newbury three starts back (2m4f, good to soft); made a respectable return there in November and too talented to dismiss, though confidence in him would be higher over further.
Signed off for Willie Mullins with a smart effort to win a beginners chase (2m7f, soft) in August 2023, after which he changed hands for £50,000; it took a long time for new trainer to get him out and more from him would have been preferable on his return, for all that it was a strong 2m4f handicap hurdle at Newbury (66-1); now back chasing but over a trip that looks short of his best.
Handicap mark has taken a right battering for winning six of his last seven chases and he's gone up 10lb for winning a race at Kelso (2m1f, good to soft) 13 days ago in which the favourite departed early; however, his confidence must be sky-high.
Won Class 2 handicaps last season at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) and Ascot (2m3f, good; handles softer); both those wins came off higher marks and, in second-time cheekpieces, there was a hint of a return to form at Cheltenham last month; player.
Had wind surgery before this season; reportedly suffered a wound to his leg on comeback run but he's a useful front-runner on his day as he showed when always in charge at Ludlow in November (2m, good to soft); a 7lb rise could have been worse and he would be dangerous if getting a softish lead; confined to right-handed tracks over fences but won this way round over hurdles.
Hit and miss last season in 2m handicap chases for Lucinda Russell when a free-going front-runner for the most part; ridden patiently on stable debut at Southwell (2m4f; this new headgear combination applied) last month and he was in trouble a long way out; others are safer.
Left previous yard after winning a selling hurdle (soft); well-held fourth in a 3m handicap hurdle on debut for this stable and didn't improve for fences here in December (2m5f); good bit to prove on a few counts back at 2m.
Clearly all the better for wind surgery, having chased home a progressive winner at Warwick and won comfortably at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) and Taunton (2m2f, good; carried a penalty); it's unlikely that today's softer ground will trouble her but she's up another 7lb and going in against far classier opposition; still commands considerable respect.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
