This looks highly competitive but the one who shouts out that he will be well suited by this sort of extreme distance, and has not yet tried it, is COLLECTORS ITEM. He shouts it loudly enough to earn the vote despite carrying top weight. O'Connell, Egbert, History Of Fashion and Anglers Crag are the next four in the weights and arguably the chief dangers, with O'Connell bidding to achieve what Anglers Crag did in this race last year by completing a four-timer. It's Anglers Crag who is feared most, though, on the assumption that he needed the race when his challenge petered out in the Edinburgh National last time. The Lingfield one-two Sporting Ace and Passing Well may be best of the remainder.[Richard Austen]
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Won from the front in the Somerset National at Wincanton (3m3f, good to soft) latest outing and the way in which he emerged in second on the run-in for London National at Sandown (3m5f, soft) the time before suggests strongly that this test will suit; major player despite top weight.
Won at Carlisle (3m, soft) and Market Rasen (3m4f Lincolnshire National, good to soft) in December and a storming finish secured him the hat-trick when dropped back to 3m at Sandown (heavy) three weeks ago; up another 6lb and in race distance but he's going from strength to strength.
Pulled up in the Scottish National in his only race over a marathon trip; however, he surged back better than ever over 3m2f at Haydock (heavy; back up 5lb today) two months ago and got to grips with the leader late in the day, so it's not hard still to envisage him as an out-and-out stayer.
The clear best from him last season was his second over the extended 3m5f at Fairyhouse (soft) in December and he found a bit extra to emerge the strongest in the same race (on yielding) this term, completing a double; sixth in top handicap at Christmas was a good effort considering the drop back to 3m at 33-1; ridden last three starts by claimer Harry Sexton; made fruitless visits to Britain for the 2022 Eider (unseated early) and Scottish National (pulled up) but his good days demand respect.
Final leg of a four-timer last season was this race, beating Prince Des Fichaux by a neck on heavy going after a bad blunder two out (4lb higher today); below form this term but there seemed to be encouragement on last two starts, looking a threat turning for home in the Edinburgh National three weeks ago; ended up beaten 23l that day but he's a major player this time if it can be relied upon that he needed that run and will now be cherry ripe.
Fell about 2st in the weights before he scored again last June and his resurgence has now yielded three more wins, with the latest in fine style over 3m6f at this track in November; creditable second off this 8lb higher mark at Ayr after a short break and still well treated on his old form.
Reliable sort who's been runner-up in three of four races this term, in cheekpieces last two; upped markedly to 3m5f for the Surrey National at Lingfield (heavy) last time and only just lost out in a duel with Sporting Ace; 4lb higher today and in a much more competitive race but he's in the mix.
Won a 4m2f Midlands National (2023) and third in the Scottish edition (2022); twice ran close to his best last term, including when he was racing in a close third in this contest two out only to unseat; 5lb lower this time round having failed to fire this term, particularly behind two of these when back up in trip at Lingfield last time, which is a concern.
Ten wins under rules include 4m hunter chase at Cheltenham (soft) last May; staying-on third at Aintree in November was a solid return to handicaps, which he's not quite matched since but his assured stamina requires respect.
Only one win from 14 starts as a chaser but eight seconds; pipped at Punchestown last May; wore cheekpieces last two starts and his sixth in the Welsh National on latest was a vastly better result than seemed likely entering the straight; it's hard to make him the percentage call but his abundance of stamina puts him into each-way calculations.
Front-runner; won the Highland National at Perth (extended 3m6f) last April and by 10l from Your Own Story in the Borders National at Kelso (4m; 6lb higher today) in December; however, soft ground seems best for him and he drifted out to 25-1 when pulled up on good to soft in the Edinburgh National three weeks ago; blinkers (worn at Perth) replace his more usual cheekpieces.
Lightly raced 8yo who had his only blip over fences (seven attempts) on penultimate start; one win (here) and four seconds, including when rallying well over an extended 2m7f here last time; probably well handicapped on an unchanged mark but this much longer trip would be bit of a guess.
Third in the 3m5f Ulster National last April; better than ever on last two starts (claimer ridden) when beaten a neck at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) and passing Anglers Crag, among others, to take second in the Edinburgh National (extended 3m7f, good to soft); place chance again.
Often wears headgear but it was put aside when he returned to form, after two modest shows, to win Surrey National at Lingfield (3m5f, heavy) three weeks ago in a ding-dong battle with Passing Well; 5lb higher in this much more competitive race but needs some respect after a career best.
Switched to chasing this term, clear best of those six runs when winning by 13l at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) in December; never having raced beyond 3m leaves him with a lot to prove.
Won twice last summer, three times in the autumn and easily made all here in December; the last four of those wins were in small fields and he tailed off on latest outing; given wind surgery since and he won twice at Sedgefield over the longest trip he's attempted, but that was little more than 3m2f; needs a big career best.
Runner-up in his first three completed starts over fences (also twice pulled up) and pipped for second by Choosethenews over the extended 2m7f here on latest outing, on second run back from a 655-day absence; unraced over even 3m1f, however, which makes him look speculative.
2lb out of the handicap today but he was second in this race last year off 4lb higher, so nearly capitalising on Anglers Crag's bad mistake two out; below form this season and made mistakes himself when pulled up here behind some of today's rivals on latest outing.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4,5
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
