Plenty are in serious each-way contention but the win may go to RIVER RUN FREE, who looked to have further improvement in him prior to his underpowered hat-trick bid in February last time. He's lightly raced and could bounce back. With the penalty demanding more of recent C&D winner Airtothethrone, runner-up Another Lord may be able to turn the tables, but last month's Exeter winner Bampton Star is feared most ahead of the reliable maiden Sadler's Bay.[Richard Austen]
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With new yard for last two outings and contributed to their recent good form with a C&D win (good to soft) from Another Lord ten days ago, with his usual tongue-tie removed; has 7lb penalty and a 7lb claimer is recruited; probably as good as ever but a bit more may be needed from him.
0-7 over hurdles and the same over fences but he's been a consistent sort for Tom Gretton, including a big run from out of the handicap in the Sussex National at Plumpton (3m4f, soft) last time; tongue tied on last two outings; needs each-way respect on this debut for new yard.
Launched his chasing career with two 3m wins in the mud at Exeter last March and scored again over that C&D on latest outing (same race as last year) but this time on good ground under claimer Chad Bament; the latter was by just a short head (after third-placed Shot Boii was reeled in close home) but he should remain competitive going back up 3lb.
Lightly raced but he's going the right way over fences and was a convincing winner of a four-runner race at Fontwell (3m2f, heavy; up 4lb) in February; has missed engagements when the ground was good, including one last month, but enters calculations if this surface is thought suitable.
Won handicap hurdle at Down Royal last March but inconsistent and has not made a serious impact with cheekpieces enlisted for his two runs for new yard; balance of form suggests he has work to do.
Sent chasing on last three outings and runner-up in two of them, including off this mark behind Airtothethrone over C&D (good to soft) last time; had jumping issues at Exeter on penultimate outing but latest display means he's considered.
Switched to chasing and fitted with tongue-tie when scoring over 2m4f in the mud at Lingfield and Leicester; 2-5 for his hat-trick bid back at Leicester, which did not work out, but maybe the run came too soon and he now looks worth a go at 3m.
Badly out of form over hurdles this season and there didn't seem to be any positives from his switch to chasing for last three outings; wore tongue-tie (dispensed with now) and cheekpieces for latest; way down the weights.
18-race maiden; well weighted judged on some hurdles and chase form last season but has not shown it more recently; sole run over about 3m was penultimate start, keeping on in fifth when falling three out at Wincanton.
11-race maiden with inconsistent overall form but his three completions at Ffos Las (3m in the mud on last two occasions) were among his best ratings; fell back here on latest outing; needs to find a bit extra to get off the mark but he's considered each-way.
