| No. |
|
Selection |
Form |
|
Guide |
|
|
|
- Gelino Bello
- H Cobden / P F Nicholls
|
|
|
15/2 |
Gelino Bello
Went chasing late in 2022, winning twice in very small fields but his jumping failed the test in 3m Grade 1 at Kempton next time; absent 698 days (minor tendon strain, also given wind surgery last July) before a satisfactory sixth under 5lb claimer in handicap hurdle this Christmas; 22-1 that day and it will be interesting to see his market strength this time.
|
|
|
|
- Shan Blue
- Harry Skelton / D Skelton
|
|
147
|
12/1 |
Shan Blue
A class act in his prime and still useful when close third in valuable Ascot handicap (3m, good to soft) last February; two lesser runs this season, reportedly unsuited by the undulating track at Cheltenham (favourite) last time and he's been dropped another 4lb since.
|
|
|
|
- Escaria Ten
- James Best / M Keighley
|
|
141
|
20/1 |
Escaria Ten
His last win was in 2020; third in the 3m6f National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021; ridden from the front when fourth of 15 on the Cheltenham cross-country (3m5f) seven weeks ago, which was his first competitive display for two years but others are still preferred today.
|
|
|
|
- In d'Or
- Mr D Maxwell / Miss V Williams
|
|
146
|
7/2 |
In d'Or
Ridden by his owner; soft-ground win over hurdles last term; major progress when switched to chasing this winter for small-field handicap wins over 3m at Taunton (good to soft) and Ascot (good); raised another 8lb but he's firmly on the upgrade.
|
|
|
|
- Pats Fancy
- Ben Jones / Miss R Curtis
|
|
|
18/1 |
Pats Fancy
Dual winner (latterly on soft) over nearly 3m at Chepstow in December 2021; he's thrown in on that form but had only one run in each of the last two seasons, when soundly beaten back at Chepstow in December 2022 and 2023, so he has a major question to answer over what ability remains on this return from another 420 days off.
|
|
|
|
- Gustavian
- Sam Twiston-Davies / A J Honeyball
|
|
148
|
11/2 |
Gustavian
Just one win from his 20 chase starts and he can make mistakes, but he lost out by just a neck when front-running off almost a career-low mark at Aintree (3m1f, soft) last time; back up 4lb.
|
|
|
|
- Dreaming Blue
- Rex Dingle / A J Honeyball
|
|
147
|
10/1 |
Dreaming Blue
Probably no ground worries; won twice last spring and the return to a staying trip worked well when making all at Ludlow (3m1f) two months ago; respectable fourth at Kempton over Christmas; blinkers (worn on last three outings last season) return and he's not dismissed.
|
|
|
|
- O'Connell
- G Sheehan / J Parkinson & S Smith
|
|
146
|
9/4 |
O'Connell
Stable has been among the winners in recent weeks and he played his part at Carlisle (3m, soft) and Market Rasen (3m4f Lincolnshire National, good to soft) in December; the former win was by a short head and the latter easily by nearly 10l, left clear at the final fence when taking charge; he's up 9lb to easily career-high mark, and back to 3m, but highly respected.
|
|
|
|
- Eden Du Houx
- Jack Tudor / D Pipe
|
|
145
|
11/1 |
Eden Du Houx
Close second over fences on his only start here; no win since 2022 and he's now 2-16 over fences, underperforming this term after 336 days off; given his fifth piece of wind surgery since and it's had a positive immediate response three times previously; bit more to prove over this far.
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