This is another step up in grade for low-mileage 5yo BUSY BEING BUSY but he has made excellent progress at Fakenham in recent weeks and is evidently very well suited by a tight, left-handed track. He is selected to complete a hat-trick. Course regular Mr Freedom has slipped to a workable mark and is second choice. Mostly Sunny is very well handicapped now and will be feared if strong in the betting, while Willie Mullins has chances with both Mr Escobar and King Alexander.[Chris Wilson]
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Safely held in two major handicaps since winning comfortably on stable debut at Fairyhouse (3m, yielding to soft) in January but is back in calmer waters here and will be suited by the forecast good ground; shortlisted.
Kept on strongly to win this race a year ago (good ground) but very little has gone to plan since; pulled up on chasing debut in February and now quickly reverts to hurdling; needs change of headgear to give him a significant boost.
2-6 since switched to hurdling in the autumn; cut little ice in Martin Pipe Hurdle on last month's handicap debut at Cheltenham but seems versatile regarding ground and may still have potential.
Useful Flat stayer who did not need to improve to justify skinny odds in Sedgefield novice (2m1f, good) on latest hurdling start in November; ran as though something was amiss on AW in February but remains unexposed over hurdles and ought to be suited by the step up in trip on this handicap debut.
Gained two of his five hurdle wins at this track and was second in Sussex Champion Hurdle here (2m, good) just over a year ago; returned from seven-month break with encouraging third at Bangor (2m3f, good; form working out well) in March and has slipped to a workable mark; can make presence felt.
Enjoyed a revival in the autumn, winning three times (1m7f-2m5f, good/good to soft); still well handicapped on older form but didn't fire on latest outing in December and others here have more pressing claims.
Lightly raced and fast-improving 5yo who comes here after two emphatic wins at Fakenham (both 2m4f, good to soft); contests a deeper race today but latest 4lb rise does not look excessive; must be considered.
Won twice in early part of season and was subsequently placed off mark 8lb higher than today's in Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen (2m, good); well below that form since returning from break in February (four runs) but sports refitted cheekpieces today and a sudden revival would not surprise.
Battled on well to win 15-runner handicap at Killarney (2m4f, good) last summer but has been out of form since; ought to have coped better with the slow ground when pulled up at Gowran in January and needs change of headgear to perk him up here.
Placed in three consecutive Grade 2 juvenile hurdles in November-January and again ran well in juvenile handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good) last month; 2lb lower here and has each-way claims at least if suited by the new trip.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
