The new-look National Hunt Chase, turned into a handicap, is a lot more competitive than the old one but TRANSMISSION has caught the eye with his strong finishes at Cheltenham and can make a successful step up in trip. That will require him to turn the tables from December on Haiti Couleurs but it's the lightly raced Irish challenger Now Is The Hour who is feared most. Gericault Roque is highly respected on this second start back from a long layoff. Stuzzikini looks the most interesting at big odds.[Richard Austen]
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Won the Mayo National at Ballinrobe (good) last May but that's not much beyond 2m7f and he was not at his best over an extended 3m1f two starts later; runner-up in the Galway Plate (extended 2m6f, good) in July and soft ground may have been against him on both starts since (September and January) but others are more persuasive.
Chasing on last four starts, winning first attempt; close second in Listed novice here (near 3m1f, good) before creditable minor honours on soft ground in 3m Grade 2 novice at Sandown and 2m4f handicap here; needs to resume improvement but he's stayed on strongly over those shorter trips.
Experienced chaser who showed he stays 3m2f well at Sligo (good) in October and took a major handicap prize in the Troytown at Navan (3m, yielding) in November; may have needed his only run since (January) and he's is in the mix.
Sixth in the Champion Bumper here in 2023; Grade 2 novice hurdle winner over 2m4f last term and showed he stays 3m well at Navan (soft) in his latest chase start, retaking third from Now Is The Hour; more to prove on good or good to soft, like so many this week, but that latest run was promising.
2023 point winner whose second win over hurdles early last year came stylishly in a 3m Grade 2 novice at Haydock (heavy); that's his best performance (four chases since) but latest was a major echo (on soft; just behind Captain Cody) and showed plenty of promise; highly interesting if he's effective on what's likely to be very different ground.
Has made a cracking transition to chasing, with handicap wins at Aintree (good) and Cheltenham (extended 3m1f, good to soft); firmly in charge in the latter from turning for home, never threatened by the strong-finishing runner-up Transmission; creditable return to hurdling last time; should stay and can resume his improvement.
Ridden by his owner; major progress when switched to chasing this winter for small-field handicap wins over 3m at Taunton (good to soft) and Ascot (good); found his revised mark at Sandown (3m, heavy) a bit too much in hat-trick bid but again ran well and staying beyond 3m may be possible.
Overcame major adversity to pull it out of the fire for his second chase win (2m6f, soft) at Windsor this winter; creditable, never-dangerous fourth in valuable event at Ascot (good) on his first attempt at 3m and he's highly likely to stay beyond that; considered.
Has taken well to chasing over 3m+ on good/good to soft at this track this term, arriving late on the scene; never a threat to Haiti Couleurs on latest chase start (extended 3m1f) but finished strongly for second; well beaten in Grade 2 hurdle race last time but he's a lot more interesting back in this sphere and should have a big shout.
Useful in bumpers for Gordon Elliott, eighth in Champion Bumper here; only two reminders of that in his seven starts since (sent chasing by new yard this term) but one was in a handicap at Musselburgh (extended 2m7f) on latest start when tongue tied first time and shaping like a stayer.
0-6 over fences under rules; blinkered on last three starts when fifth, sixth and second in major Irish handicaps over 3m+; failed to capitalise on a rival's bad blunder on latest but that was improved form when upped to 3m3f in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown (soft) and he was 13l clear of the third; looks well capable of getting seriously involved.
Sole hurdles win was at Cheltenham; likewise 1-7 over fences, with the win in a three-runner handicap at Doncaster (3m, good) in November; made a respectable stable debut (remains in same ownership) when remote second of five over that same C&D but that did not have the stamp of a NH Chase winner; first-time blinkers replace cheekpieces.
0-7 over fences but that includes his seconds in a 3m5f Classic at Warwick and 3m1f Ultima here, along with third in the 3m2f Coral Cup at Newbury in November 2022 before a long layoff; finally reappeared with an encouraging run at Windsor (20-1) in January; 7lb lower than in the 2022 Ultima and lightly raced, he's on a tempting mark.
Won three successive handicap hurdles last winter and two in a row at about 3m over fences (Newbury and Windsor) this winter; those improved efforts came to an end when he only struggled into third back at Newbury one month ago, which makes others much more persuasive today.
Won a bumper three years ago but 0-12 since; while he was competitive over fences last season and his fourth at 50-1 in the Scottish National (4m, soft; 5lb lower today) last April reads well, a poor sequence since seems to confirm he's no Superman; headgear goes on for the first time.
Had an excellent hurdles campaign last term, going agonisingly close in the Pertemps Final at this meeting (3m, soft; 6lb lower today); his first go at fences under rules was in 2022 and he's having another crack at it this season, last time threatening to get competitive three out at Windsor when making a mistake and also badly hampered; jumps rather ponderously and has more to prove away from soft ground but he's well handicapped and likely to stay.
Often front-runner; 1-11 over hurdles; four seconds in this sphere (at up to 3m, usually seen over significantly shorter these days) but his score over fences is now 0-19; mind you, his trainer's Rule The World was 0-13 before winning the 2016 Grand National.
Scored at Exeter (3m, good to soft) in October on second attempt over fences and brushed two lesser efforts aside with a game, front-running win in first-time cheekpieces at Taunton (2m7f, soft) five weeks ago; up 4lb but stays 3m well and could have more to offer.
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 )
