A deep handicap that should be run at a strong pace. SPIRITS BAY ran a lot better than his finishing position suggests in the Imperial Cup and this longer trip heightens interest as there's plenty of encouragement to take from his pedigree. East India Express was a fader in the Martin Pipe but the principals all came from further back and he remains capable of better. Ballytechno and Rightsotom are others of interest.[Alistair Jones]
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At the top of his game when winning this 12 months ago (good) off 12lb lower and won again here in November over 3m (comfortably off 6lb lower); his form has cooled, most recently in new cheekpieces here at the Festival, and now has to bounce back under a big weight.
66-1 when down the field in the 2m5f Coral Cup here last month; ran respectably in his three previous races (at about 3m) following a mammoth absence but he's not looking particularly well handicapped.
On a recovery mission after two modest runs but he has had a wind operation and, from the front, he beat a good yardstick with some comfort at Doncaster in November (2m3f, good; 6lb lower); remains of interest.
Progressive form in winning 2m5f handicaps at Ascot (good to soft) and Kempton (good) and ran well on his return from a break in the Martin Pipe here for which he was only 4-1; he got gobbled up late on by rivals ridden colder and there's more to come from this 6yo.
A bit out of her depth in the Grade 2 Mares' Chase here in March but she's a consistent hurdler who ran up to her best the time before in winning a Listed race (2m5f, soft); should go well, but perhaps vulnerable to rivals on kinder marks.
Brought up his hat-trick on handicap debut at Aintree in November (2m1f, good) and his following run at Doncaster off this 7lb higher mark looked too bad to be true; arrives here fresh and may well have further improvement lurking.
From the front he made hard work of justifying odds-on favouritism in a small-field novice at Doncaster (2m5f, good) but he would probably have won a handicap the run before at Hereford had he not fiddled the final flight; lightly raced and mildly progressive, so deserves a close look.
It was a Class 4 that he won at Ludlow in February (2m5f, good to soft) and went off at 16-1 when then down the field in a Class 3 at Uttoxeter; looks vulnerable, for all that he was a close second to Doyen Quest in this 12 months ago when only 1lb higher.
Two wins during his novice campaign included a handicap (6lb lower); 0-4 for this season but ran well at the weights behind Constitution Hill here in January and he threatened to take a hand in the Imperial Cup until wilting late on; today's rise in distance heightens interest as there's stamina in his pedigree.
Lost his way for Dan Skelton after being very smart in his prime; returning from 633 days away when pulled up in last month's Martin Pipe (150-1); can only be watched.
Can front-run and was clear at one point before weakening into midfield in the 3m Pertemps Final a month ago; his only win this campaign came at the expense of three rivals and others are more intriguing.
He's not the only possible front-runner in this field but he's an improving 7yo who came 15l clear in a small field at Haydock four weeks ago (2m3f, good); a 6lb rise could have been worse and, although this is a lot more challenging, he's in the mix.
Perhaps unsuited by soft ground when pulled up in a Grade 2 in December but it's been a progressive campaign otherwise and was a closing third over 2m6f at Kelso (handicap on good to soft) when last sighted later that month; unlikely that a lack of recent match practice will hold him back here and could be interesting.
Won back-to-back 2m1f handicaps with ease underfoot at Carlisle in November; has been chasing the last twice, with her first effort much better than the second; could find this too competitive returning to hurdles.
Only real blip in four runs over hurdles was a remote finish in a Grade 2 here in October; didn't look ahead of his mark when fourth on handicap debut at Warwick (2m5f, good) and dropped only 3lb for that.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
