The unexposed Jumper Madrik rallied well when scoring on his handicap/chase debut at Leicester and is strongly respected off his revised mark. There are several chase newcomers who need a close look including Nedzor, who has been in fair form in hurdle handicaps and has shaped as though this new trip could suit. However, the vote goes to EMPTY NEST who has been as good as ever with a tongue-tie added recently, including with an emphatic win over C&D on his penultimate run.[David Moon]
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Off the mark when winning on his second chase start at Ffos Las (2m3f, soft) in November; came from off the pace for that comfortable win but he flopped at Exeter (pulled up) the following month and needs to bounce back after that laboured effort.
Beaten 27l or more in two bumpers and three runs over hurdles (2m1f/2m3f); still lightly raced and now makes his handicap debut but he needs a transformation on this switch to fences.
1-10 over hurdles and was hard to predict in that sphere, but he returned after wind surgery with a good third in 18-runner handicap at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month; on same mark here and has possibilities if he takes to this new discipline.
Record of 1-10 over fences but his win was by 14l over C&D (tongue-tie added) on Boxing Day and he backed that up with a close call at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) last month; up another 2lb but he's been as good as ever recently and is open to more progress; big player.
Half-brother to a point winner and he showed ability in his three hurdle runs at up to 2m4f; his last run was two years ago but he's still very lightly raced and needs checking in market on his handicap/chase debut.
Did well to finish a close second at Newcastle (2m4f, good) in November after making some mistakes, but he was tailed off behind Empty Nest over C&D on Boxing Day; that took his rules record to 0-11 and others are more convincing.
0-5 over hurdles but he was runner-up on handicap debut at Leicester (1m7f, heavy) in December and ran to a similar level when third at Southwell (2m, soft) last month; needs to find something extra on this switch to fences but he's still unexposed and has shaped as though this new trip could suit.
Very lightly raced 6yo; didn't show much in three 2m hurdle runs, but he found stacks of improvement when scoring on his handicap/chase debut at Leicester (2m4f, soft) in December; up 8lb but he rallied well for that comfortable success and is open to more progress; strongly respected.
0-6 over hurdles but she's run respectably in her last three handicaps, most recently when fourth of 16 at Hexham (2m7f, soft) in December; this is a big drop back in trip but she's a point winner who has possibilities if she can find something extra on chase debut.
Veteran who returned from a long absence with a well-held sixth of eight over C&D (50-1) in December; that took his chase record to 0-20 and others are preferred.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
