Unexpected Party should make a bold bid to repeat last year's win. JPR One (second choice) also warrants respect as his Haldon Gold Cup defeat of Djelo reads very well and his two subsequent Graded efforts have been creditable. General Medrano is another for the shortlist but perhaps this is finally the day that MY MATE MOZZIE gains a deserved big handicap success. Gavin Cromwell's runner shaped really well from a long way off the pace when second back chasing at Leopardstown last month and can go one better now. [Andrew Sheret]
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Produced a high-class handicap performance with a tongue-tie added (retained since) when giving weight and a beating to Djelo in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter (extended 2m1f, good) on reappearance; no match for Jonbon in the Tingle Creek but it was another good run on RPRs and a recent fourth in the Game Spirit at Newbury should have put him spot on for this; a class act back in a handicap.
Has landed some notable handicaps at 2m, including over C&D in October 2023; creditable third when attempting to repeat that success and has had a break since; might be vulnerable to younger legs.
Frequently knocks at the door in big handicaps under all codes, including last summer when third at Royal Ascot and in the Galway Hurdle; ran another cracker when 7l second of 14 to An Peann Dearg in Leopardstown handicap chase (2m1f, yielding) last month back from a break, travelling smoothly into contention from a long way back; has to be high on the shortlist for a yard with a strong Cheltenham record.
Hasn't quite lived up to his big early reputation but he is a smart chaser and arrives on the back of two creditable in-frame efforts over 2m1f at Fairyhouse, latterly fourth of 12 to The King Of Prs.
10yo who has been better than ever this season, beating Unexpected Party in a Carlisle graduation event on reappearance and edging out Matata (pair clear) in a handicap at Kelso (2m1f, soft) a month later; creditable third of seven at Doncaster (2m, good) in January but General Medrano was 6l ahead of him and it's a run which underlines he needs a bit extra from a mark in the high 140s.
Won his final three starts of last season and progressed again to land two valuable pots at Ascot (both 2m1f, good) in November; has disappointed on his last two outings but has been given a bit of a chance by the handicapper if staging a revival.
10yo who proved too strong for Libberty Hunter in this race on soft last year and looks to have been campaigned with this contest in mind again, keeping on for best of the rest behind Matata in a 2m Windsor handicap (soft) in January; 6lb higher than 12 months ago but still much respected.
Good second on reappearance at Haydock (2m, soft) and easily went one better at Newbury (2m, good to soft) seven days later; below-par fourth of five back at Newbury next time but quickly back to form when second (Nells Son third) at Doncaster (2m, good) last time; the move he made from the back to the front before being worn down towards the finish at Doncaster suggests he's still going the right way; considered.
Enhanced his good strike-rate over fences with wins at Bangor in May and Newton Abbot in August; given a break since a below-par effort at Kelso in October; others are more obvious.
Not seen over fences since taking a fall in the 2023 December Gold Cup here; some good handicap hurdle efforts over the summer and freshened up since a couple of lesser runs in December (has had wind surgery); respectable seventh of 23 in the Plate at this meeting two years ago.
Well beaten when falling two out in this last year but has resumed his progress this season, placing in two competitive handicaps before leading home a Gavin Cromwell 1-2-3 in a valuable event at Fairyhouse (2m1f, soft) in January.
Looked smart from the front over 2m last season; hasn't quite hit the same heights this term but better signs when keeping on from off pace to finish third of 12 over 2m4f at Musselburgh (good to soft) 39 days ago; won't be inconvenienced by the return to 2m and is feasibly treated on peak form.
Four-time winner, most recently in a valuable handicap chase at Killarney last July; went up 11lb for that and his form has been in and out since; had already weakened out of contention when falling at the last at the Dublin Racing Festival and his claims aren't obvious.
Became disappointing last season but things clicked again in the autumn, with a handicap win at Carlisle (2m, good to soft) followed by a Grade 2 second over C&D (good ground; no match for L'Eau du Sud); weakened quickly when a distant third of three finishers at Ascot in December and freshened up since.
2023 Fred Winter winner here; in good form over fences in October, scoring at Sligo (2m5f, good) and narrowly denied in a C&D novice; returned from a break with a good second over hurdles at Thurles in January; looks to have been targeted at this meeting again but lacks big-field handicap chase experience.
Returned from an 11-month absence to land a 2m handicap chase readily at Navan in December; creditable third to stablemate The King Of Prs at Fairyhouse next time and a possible excuse emerged when a well-held favourite at the Dublin Racing Festival as he was found to be coughing after the race; part of a strong hand for Gavin Cromwell.
Well handicapped on his best form for Dan Skelton, including fourth in this race two years ago, but has returned from a long absence for a new yard this season and finished well beaten on all three starts this 10yo needs to stage a big revival.
Useful hurdler who translated all that ability to this sphere at the fourth time of asking when edging ahead late on in 2m Down Royal rated novice (good to yielding) seven weeks ago; his fencing was still novicey on occasions at Down Royal so whether his jumping stands up to this environment remains to be seen.
Failed to win over hurdles but won his first two chases (yielding/good) in the autumn; good second at Punchestown (2m, yielding) in December; softer ground and a switch to hold-up tactics provide possible excuses for a below-par run back at Punchestown last month; handicap chase debut.
Consistency has been an issue but he looked good when winning two of his five chase starts, albeit in a match race at Kelso (2m1f, soft) last time; this is the first time he's contested a chase with more than seven runners.
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 )
