The 5yos Fortunate Fella and Ceejaybe (second choice) have something to recommend them while King Of The Story should take a step forward from his recent return, but a chance is taken that TEDWIN HILLS can put in a clear round of jumping and atone for his Ffos Las blunder.[Richard Russell]
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Multiple chase wins at 2m-2m5f; beaten a short head at Newton Abbot in September 2023 but not so good since, including in two runs last year, and he now returns from a 325-day absence back down to his career-low mark.
Placed in three Irish points; not much market interest in him in first three hurdles but he did attract support on handicap debut stepped up to nearly 3m at Chepstow (good; weakened) last month; has chasers in his pedigree and now tackles fences back down in trip for his top yard.
Jumping issues have held him back and he was easily reeled in after leading on debut for new yard at Bangor (3m, good); however, the return to 2m3f looked to be doing the trick until a bad blunder three out forced him to pull up at Ffos Las (about 3l ahead at the time) since; same mark here (has won off higher) and a blemish-free round would make him a potent force.
Useful for Willie Mullins in Ireland but lightly raced and generally disappointing since; won a point last March but had become outpaced over C&D on recent stable debut when he got the third last wrong and faded; that came after a 355-day break so he may do better but does need to.
0-15 under all codes but ran well for a long way before weakening into fourth on chasing debut at Leicester (2m4f, soft) in December and looked stretched by 3m when below that form at Huntingdon last month; had wind surgery in between those runs and the handicapper's giving him a chance.
Won in good style off 1lb higher here (about 2m5f, good) in August 2023; didn't always jump with fluency when finishing last at this track 28 days ago but that came off the back of a 493-day absence and he can be expected to do better this time.
Won this race last year (good; jumped left, made all) but that is her only success from 35 starts under rules and she's struggled since June, including when pulled up over C&D (stopped quickly) in a new headgear combination two weeks ago; 3lb wrong and the hood comes off; risky.
Sole win over hurdles in late 2022; switched to chasing on last five starts (absent 417 days after the first of those) but has only completed once, when beaten 53l at Leicester in March; 4lb out of the handicap.
Won at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good to soft) last July but that's his sole win from 22 chase starts; ran a fair race when third at Hereford (2m5f, good) last time but needs to find extra from 6lb out of the weights.
Little in the way of solid form and despite finishing third he was beaten 25l at Plumpton (about 2m3f, good; first-time visor, retained) last month; 7lb out of the weights and has work to do.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
