There might be some dicey moments in his bid to come from out the back but JIPCOT (nap) is well capable of emerging on the scene to serious effect if he gets any luck. Second choice is another who's only just crept in at the bottom of the weights, as this contest could be a nice fit for Ike Sport. Be Aware, the long-time favourite for this, of course needs respect for Dan Skelton and Bunting has to catch the eye for Willie Mullins. Impose Toi, Al Gasparo and Beat The Bat are among the many others who need to be considered.[Richard Austen]
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Mid-division in the 2023 Pertemps; not the most consistent but he picks up a good prize fairly regularly, including a 2m6f Grade 2 on latest start, and has proved himself in big-field handicaps (notably under Carl Millar); the trouble is that the handicapper seems to know all about him.
Top weight when second from the rear in this last year, following fifth in the County at this meeting in 2022 and 2023; won a small-field conditions event at Christmas on sole start this term; brings a proud record but without that many wins and he's probably vulnerable off 4lb higher than last year.
Disappointing at 10-1 in the 4yo event (the only time he's run in a handicap) at this meeting last year when heavy ground had seemed a plus; improved form under Oakley Brown all four starts since, albeit beaten 7l (2m4f Grade 2) and 9l (3m Ascot Grade 1) on good to soft on last two occasions and rising in the handicap as a result; further improved form is very much needed.
Career-best efforts came at the Festival in Grade 1 novice hurdle and novice chase, albeit at 3m and he's concentrated on that sort of trip for last two seasons; blinkered last two starts and ran respectably; could get involved if there's a good pace at this trip for his first ever handicap.
Sole hurdles win (18 races) was in 2021 but he's reliable, including with third in the 2022 County here and fifth in 2024 Champion Hurdle; third of five in Ascot Grade 2 (extended 2m3f) in November was creditable but he's exposed, so needs to improve for the new trip; good claimer enlisted.
66-1 and came from last of seven when chasing home easy winner Ballyburn in Grade 1 novice hurdle on this card (2m5f, soft) last March; that's a good deal better than his other form, albeit confined to two other Grade 1s at the spring festivals since and managing fourth at Aintree on first occasion; off 313 days and lightly raced from top stable, so rivals can't rest easily.
Fourth in the Grand Annual here last March; that's over fences, in which sphere he's registered easily his best efforts, notably his clearcut win in a 19-runner Listed handicap at Navan (2m4f, soft) on penultimate start; something amiss at Christmas on latest; has a vastly lower hurdles mark in Ireland (second in a big field in November) but the British handicapper hasn't been nearly so generous.
Fourth in the Grade 1 Stayers' in 2021 at this meeting in his pomp but well beaten in three subsequent visits, in this race for the last two years; landed a four-runner Grade 2 at Wetherby (3m, good) in November but it would now be a surprise if this 11yo popped up in front in a Coral Cup.
Made all for three wins over hurdles (ten attempts); raced midfield when disappointing here (3m) in October on handicap debut but followed that with a career best at Leopardstown (2m4f, good to yielding) over Christmas when taking 20-runner handicap by half a length under 5lb claimer, with Comfort Zone third; shoved up the weights but just a 6yo and still has potential.
Second in Grade 1 novice at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) last April and returned to form when back over hurdles for fifth of 20 at Leopardstown (2m7f, yielding) in December; tailed off, however, in another Pertemps qualifier at Huntingdon in January and swaps cheekpieces for blinkers.
First, second and third in three hot handicaps last season (not seen after January) and he allayed any stamina doubts when back with a bang at Newbury (extended 2m4f) in November this term, reeling in the leader late on; reliable, progressive and could easily have more to give; first headgear.
Has had only five races, all over hurdles, and won two of the first three; remote in a valuable race at Leopardstown (2m, soft) in his first handicap but an excellent second of 16 from out the back at Fairyhouse (2m4f, soft) later in February; inexperienced but promising.
Handed three Grade 1 juvenile assignments last February-May, with declining returns (seventh in Triumph here); second of five to Beckett Rock at Clonmel (2m1f, soft; bad mistake three out) in January was much more like it and that was his first run for eight months; with this new trip making appeal on this handicap debut, he's one to take seriously.
Made a splash initially for Nicky Henderson last season but tailed off in May on final start for him; back with a bang to justify favouritism at Fairyhouse (3m) this January, which was followed by a respectable mid-division effort in warm 25-runner race at Leopardstown (3m); 28-1 for the latter and he's one to note for any stronger market interest this time.
Won here as a juvenile and took a major 2m Flat handicap last October; throw in his third in valuable, large-field handicap hurdles at Galway (2m6f, yielding) last August and Leopardstown (2m4f, good to yielding; behind Al Gasparo) in late December and he needs each-way respect here as well.
Fourth in the 2023 Martin Pipe here but early mistakes saw him well beaten in this (14-1) last year; won off a reduced mark at Bangor in November and creditable fourth of seven at Taunton latest, but needs a return to 2023 levels.
Won debut and placed all five races since; the last three were warm handicaps, notably the Greatwood here (2m, good) penultimate start, in which he came from off pace to go down by half a length; off 81 days; youngster who's back up markedly in trip and brings potential for trainer with a fine record in Festival handicap hurdles, including winning the last two renewals of this one.
Emerged as very useful Flat stayer last year on good/good to firm; returned to hurdling with a 1m7f win at Thurles (good) in January but failed to fire in a Pertemps qualifier at Musselburgh (3m, good to soft) two weeks later; 2m4f+ had held some appeal prior to that and his Flat form is eyecatching.
Usually claimer ridden but now has Harry Cobden; the last of her ten wins was in August 2022; still shows plenty on occasions, including when seventh in the Pertemps Final last March and a close second back at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) three starts back; pulled up with cheekpieces enlisted on latest start; that headgear is now discarded but she's not the percentage call.
Ended a golden spell in 2021 with 2m4f Grade 2 novice win for Tom Lacey; absent 1066 days before this season and did not see out the trip (about 3m) as well as several others in this winter's three handicaps, showing up well on first two occasions but not quite so much on latest; while this drop back in trip looks the right move, other candidates are more persuasive.
Good ground suits but he's not the easiest to predict at the best of times and has run badly in all three races since his chase win at Aintree (3m1f, good) last May; had a second wind operation before penultimate start and was back hurdling for latest; well treated on best form but the chances of his reproducing it seem to be receding.
Truncated 2023-24 campaign featured a 2m5f Grade 2 novice win here; not disgraced on Windsor reappearance (3m) after 429 days off but showing a good deal more than on last two outings would have been preferable.
Can be reluctant to race but she was a Listed Flat winner in 2023 and has scored twice over hurdles this term, latterly in new equipment (retained since) for stable debut in Listed mares' handicap at Leopardstown (2m2f, soft) in February; unable to get seriously involved at Kelso (2m; 6-1) 11 days ago but tries a new trip and can't comfortably be dismissed.
Has a largely solid record and ran well over 2m3f at Haydock on reappearance; back to 2m for both starts since and he ran as if in need of further, nevertheless finishing a good fifth of 17 in top handicap at Newbury (soft; has won on good) last time; could be a leading player if he can iron out the repeated sticky jumping he showed that day.
Had wind surgery before winning in fine style at Newbury (extended 2m4f, good to soft; 10lb higher today) in December, very strong at the finish; delivered late again when respectable third over 3m at Windsor three weeks later, before looking a non-stayer over that trip at Haydock; he's been deliberately setting off in last place, which will demand some luck, but this step back in trip makes strong appeal and he could deliver a telling late challenge.
Fell in his second chase; back hurdling for his three starts since, all over about 3m and he's not proven over that far but latest was a step back in the right direction (travelled best); this appears more his trip and a look at his smooth win by nearly 7l in 17-runner handicap at Sandown (2m4f, good; 7lb higher today) last April sparks major interest.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4,5,6
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
