This is seriously competitive. Irish-based Mags Mullins has had only one hurdler run in Britain in the last five years and it's not that alone that heightens interest in BLAZE THE WAY, as this 7yo has been improving in Ireland and this trip is a better fit than the 2m4f over which he ran well last time. Returning to further will also benefit Joyeux Machin who was doing all his best work late at Ascot and he appears to be coming nicely to the boil for Dan Skelton. Chasingouttheblues, Patriotik, Red Dirt Road, Samuel Spade, Guard Duty and Backmersackme all have chances.[Alistair Jones]
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Won a French bumper and impressed in adding a maiden hurdle and beginners chase in the McManus colours for Willie Mullins (both at 2m4f on slow ground); however, back from 407 days away, he was tailed off behind Protektorat in a valuable 2m6f chase at Windsor and then barely went a yard in a 2m Chepstow handicap (first-time tongue-tie); returns to hurdles with masses to prove.
Low-mileage 8yo who probably needed his comeback run after a long absence and won his next two, over 2m4f at Aintree (soft) and nearly 3m at Sandown (heavy; made all for an 8l verdict); raised 9lb for last time but clearly progressive and will go well if coping with the drying ground.
Exposed 10yo who has been highly tried on occasions; was returning from 261 days away with a keeping-on third at Musselburgh (3m, good to soft) and he has dropped to a more realistic mark.
Ex-Irish gelding who is finding his feet with Dan Skelton and he emerged from off the pace to take second in a Class 2 at Ascot four weeks ago (good; effective on soft); interesting now returned to further as he has won at 3m.
Has only had the nine races and won his last two, last time at Newbury barely coming off the bridle to win very cosily by a length; steps up from 2m4f but there's plenty of stamina in his pedigree; could be progressive enough to handle the 10lb rise; improvement has come on soft ground but he copes with it drier.
This looks stronger than the Ascot handicap he won last month (2m7f, good) but he came readily clear late on and he's not had many chances at this sort of trip; raised 8lb but Callum Pritchard's claim deals with 5lb of that and drying conditions are in his favour.
A suspicion that he needs softer ground but, with a tongue-tie applied, he's run really well in good Listed handicaps in Ireland the last twice (at about 3m on soft); if he can deal with conditions and take to the new cheekpieces he won't be far away.
Would probably have won at Chepstow over Christmas had he not hung badly right on the run-in, and he made amends with a rallying display to score at Wincanton (3m, good to soft); not badly handicapped off just a 3lb higher mark than for that win and cheekpieces go on after a lesser effort at Exeter.
Outclassed behind Cheltenham runner-up The Yellow Clay in a Grade 3 before making successful handicap debut upped to 3m1f at Navan (yielding to soft); nothing wrong with his second back there over 2m4f when understandably keeping on; looks on an upward trajectory and he's his shrewd Irish trainer's only runner on the card.
Hasn't had a lot of chances over this sort of trip and he won nicely enough over 3m at Ffos Las in January (soft); however, never threatened to defy this 6lb higher mark at Newbury and this is another competitive race.
Won a point at 3m; unseated at Haydock in November on his first try over 3m as a hurdler but won on the second attempt at Doncaster two weeks ago (good to soft) where he stayed on well; just 3lb higher here and there's probably a lot more to come from this 6yo; beaten only 4l by Red Dirt Road over 2m4f at Aintree on Boxing Day and has a pull at the weights with the winner; good chance.
Useful novice last season; things again looked on the up when second over Wincanton's 3m but he then disappointed in Red Dirt Road's race at Sandown; should have a bigger effort in him as he's not badly handicapped.
Brought up his hat-trick in a 3m soft-ground handicap at Cheltenham on New Year's Day; his productive campaign has come at a cost mark-wise and he was only fifth off this rating at Exeter; others might be better in here.
Chepstow winner over Christmas (2m, soft) and was conceding lots of weight to the front two when beaten 5l on his return there (extended 2m3f, heavy); in deeper here over a longer trip but his trainer considers him a future staying chaser.
Won his first two handicaps (2m3f, good to soft/3m, soft) and his latest third in a strong race at Haydock was no backward step as he kept on takingly after suffering some interference; firmly on the upgrade and has a chance.
Old hurdle form for Nigel Twiston-Davies brings him into this (stays 3m) but he's failed to complete in both chases for this yard and was 150-1 for the latest, a Class 3 handicap.
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 )
