There are plenty here with potential to improve with I AIN'T YOUR MATE selected with the step up in trip on his handicap debut likely to suit. Pure Carbon can also be expected to improve on this forecast better ground and he is second choice. The other one worth a second glance is Diamond Dealer who is surely better than his last of six finishers reads last time, while Let's Go Joe will have his supporters after winning here in November. [Andrew Bladen]
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Well beaten on the Flat and over hurdles since returning from a break; takes a drop in class and only 1lb higher than for September's win at Kelso but more is required.
Has four wins over fences but only modest form in three runs in that sphere after he returned in October and was well held on his return to hurdles last month; hard to fancy.
Won two novice hurdles for Dan Skelton at Stratford last June but well held on his last two starts; has had wind surgery since his last run in September and makes his stable debut; best watched unless there's a market move.
Held his own against subsequent winners in his final bumper and then finished second on hurdle debut at Warwick (2m, good); hasn't built on that, though Newbury was too bad to be true and likely that he was unsuited by soft ground when midfield behind the promising Palladium at Huntingdon; respected on his handicap debut.
Inconsistent mare who won here in 2021 but tends to save her best form for Market Rasen (two wins); third of six there (2m5f, good to soft) last month and would go close if able to reproduce that effort.
Won two novice hurdles in a row (2m/2m1f, good) last spring and returned with fair third on handicap debut at Aintree (2m1f, good) in November; however, well beaten here (2m, good; had wind op soon afterwards) next time and at Musselburgh (2m, good to soft) last month; first-time cheekpieces now on.
Got off the mark when sporting a first-time tongue-tie in a Uttoxeter maiden in October; raced keenly when last of six finishers at Wetherby (2m4f, good to soft) on handicap debut in December with hood removed (left off again here); still has potential off this mark.
Placed in a couple of 3m points last year and ran his best race over hurdles when fourth of 14 at Wincanton (2m, soft) last month; steps up in trip on his handicap debut and has to be of interest.
Very well handicapped on old form for Nicky Henderson but looked badly out of sorts in Ireland in 2023 and was pulled up when 100-1 on two runs for current stable; first-time hood replaces blinkers and hard to fancy.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
