Safe Destination is in good form and has solid claims but THE COX EXPRESS was nudged up only 2lb for his creditable second in a big field on last month's chase debut and, with good 7lb claimer Callum Pritchard enlisted, he gets the vote in the hope this new trip suits. Chase debutant Whynotnowroy is next on the list.[Chris Wilson]
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Won from the front under Toby McCain-Mitchell at Southwell (3m, good to soft) last month and is now 2-3 for the season; will be fine on this right-handed track and is respected in his current mood.
0-6 over fences but bettered his laboured seasonal/stable debut when second at Huntingdon (2m7f, soft) in first-time blinkers/tongue-tie last month; contender if first-time visor keeps him motivated here.
Began season in good form over hurdles but ended last year with two disappointing efforts and, having been pulled up on all three previous chasing attempts, looks too risky on this return to fences; visor added.
Had rather mixed record over fences last year but scored off mark 2lb higher than today's at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) last June and was in contention before penultimate-fence fall at Sedgefield (2m5f, soft) six weeks ago; will be fine over today's trip; could have a say.
High-mileage veteran who looked out of sorts on his final two appearances in 2024; too well handicapped to rule out but younger rivals appeal more; blinkers refitted.
Well handicapped on old form but struggled on all three outings in 2024 (latest was over hurdles) and needs the addition of cheekpieces to make a huge difference here.
Signed off for Keiran Burke with a clearcut hurdle win last May and ran well in defeat for new stable in November; flopped badly when warm favourite last month but still enters calculations on this chasing debut.
Nothing like the force of old but won off much reduced mark at Warwick (2m4f, good) last May and went close here (2m2f, good to soft) when back in action in November; unexposed over this sort of trip; a possible.
Not at best on his two hurdling starts in the autumn but ran big race when second of 15 on chase debut at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) in December and benefits from Callum Pritchard's very useful 7lb claim here; major player if this new trip suits.
Placed in two good-ground chases last spring (2m6f/3m2f) but was below form on his next two outings and is now 0-15 under all codes; had wind op during three-month break; others have more pressing claims.
Unplaced all seven rules starts; ran well to a point on last month's chasing debut at Leicester (2m4f, soft) but dropped out very tamely in the home straight and needs that outing to have brought him on.
Scored at Wincanton (3m1f, good) and over C&D (good to firm) in the autumn but was not in the same form on slower ground the last twice and needs to get back in the groove.
Pulled up at Ffos Las in November, after a long layoff, and now 0-4 over fences; well handicapped on old hurdling form but has a lot more to prove than some of these; considered only if lively in the betting.
Came good over fences at Newton Abbot (2m5f, soft) in September and didn't run badly in races won by thriving rivals on next two outings but a few of the others in this field look stronger.
Eight-race maiden; stayed on for third off today's mark over hurdles last April (2m4f) but failed to build upon his encouraging seasonal/chase debut when a disappointing favourite at Uttoxeter last month.
Won over 2m here in March 2022 but generally disappointing since; pulled up last month, after a long absence, and is 5lb wrong today; not the most obvious answer.
1/4 Odds Place 1,2,3,4
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
