With half of the declared runners, Willie Mullins has as many as all the British trainers combined and the presence of his class act Grangeclare West at the head of the weights means that 11 horses compete from out of the handicap proper. Most strikingly, the promising Hoe Joly Smoke, the only runner bidding to sustain Dan Skelton's title challenge, lines up from 12lb wrong. A case can be made for the Venetia Williams-trained Victtorino and Sean Bowen could conceivably work his magic on Resplendent Grey but it's hard not to think that this is nevertheless all about choosing which of the Mullins runners will emerge on top. Grangeclare West is by no means dismissed, while Paul Townend taking the ride should be a big pointer for High Class Hero (second choice), who's missed the big meetings this year, and Dancing City's recent travails do not rule him out. Olympic Man needed to settle better in the Scottish National and is now hooded but another chance is given to MINELLA COCOONER. The Grand National distance found him out three weeks ago but his career peak came when winning this race last year and he showed that day that he could take two tough races in less than a month.[Richard Austen]
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Second in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown (3m, yielding) in February and an excellent third in the Grand National at Aintree (4m2f, good to soft) three weeks ago, rallying very gamely after a bad mistake at the final fence; going up another 5lb demands that he reaches even greater heights.
Delivered late to win this race on good ground last year by a neck, 26 days after his third in a heavy-ground Irish National; he shaped as if back to his best in the Grand National three weeks ago, travelling well to dispute the lead two out but ending up seventh as the 4m2f took its toll; this trip is presumably the ideal fit and, although 4lb higher than last year, a big run should be forthcoming if Aintree has not taken it out of him.
Fourth in the 2023 Scottish National (4m, good); commendable efforts most starts since, for instance beaten a nose by Victtorino at Ascot (3m, good; 1lb higher today) in February, but this race last year was not one of them and neither was the Grand National three weeks ago.
Three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, including twice last spring, and he began his chasing career in promising style with two wins this winter; there have since been significant reverses when well beaten at Cheltenham and falling at Aintree, both in Grade 1s over about 3m, but he'd previously suggested a strength in stamina which gives this test some appeal.
Close second to Dancing City in Grade 1 Punchestown novice hurdle (3m, good to yielding) last May; while his form as a novice chaser has not matched that, defeat at 2-13 last time was over an inadequate 2m5f and he's basically made a satisfactory transition; work to do but, faced with this new, serious stamina test, this lightly raced 8yo has been favourite this week for today's handicap debut and the stable's top jockey Paul Townend takes the ride.
Poor Cheltenham record was extended at the Festival last time; 3m at right-handed Ascot, on the other hand, produced four wins (two on good ground) from five attempts and his strong finish in Newbury's big 3m2f handicap in November catches the eye with regard to today's new trip; his stable has had a long dry spell recently (it ended on Thursday) but he's a strong candidate otherwise.
Dictated the pace for a Uttoxeter win (3m, soft; 3lb higher today) in February with second-time cheekpieces (kept since) in a less demanding race than he's often appeared in; 13l fourth in the Welsh National (near 3m7f, soft) was respectable but he did not spark in the big one at Aintree three weeks ago and good ground would give him more to prove.
His sole start over 3m saw him pulled up, on heavy ground admittedly, but the furthest he's been otherwise was 2m5f and that too was a failure; 6yo with time on his side and his best form last time out, winning a 2m4f beginners chase at Clonmel, but big improvement is required and his suitability for this test requires plenty of guesswork.
Lightly raced 8yo; jumping was a major issue on his first two starts over fences but some improvement when he won a 2m4f beginners chase at Naas seven weeks ago, rallying extremely well; favourite for the Scottish National (4m) a fortnight ago but he didn't settle in front and subsided into seventh; today's hood could help with that and he may still bring potential.
1lb out of the handicap; chasing last five starts, winning first attempt and creditable results in the others; performed wonders to finish fourth in the 3m6f NH Chase at Cheltenham last time, given he'd been labouring badly out the back three out, but a much more zestful, fluent display would clearly be preferable and connections therefore reach for cheekpieces.
2lb out of the handicap; fell in his first two chases but has got his act together since and placed over the extended 2m4f when racing prominently at Cheltenham on last two outings; ridden by Sean O'Keeffe throughout chase career; stamina is a big question, particularly after he attempted 2m7f twice as a hurdler, and he's rather a free-going sort, but a hood (tried once) returns and he's been staying on admirably at the finish of late.
5lb out of the handicap; 9yo whose career has contained plenty of surprises and performing so manfully in 3m handicap chases on good ground at Ascot and this track on his last two starts is arguably one of them; that's nowhere near his old hurdles form but he's been sticking on as if his next reinvention could be as a stayer.
Sole win was in France on debut, so he's now 0-13 for Willie Mullins and 0-9 over fences; clearly best effort came in the Scottish National on soft ground last year when about 8l sixth, coming from well off the pace (2lb higher today); penultimate outing gave some renewed hope, before he was unluckily carried out in the latest Scottish National when cheekpieces were added; just 9-1 that day but he's 6lb out of the handicap this time.
Emerged in second for London National over C&D (soft) in December and won from the front in the Somerset National at Wincanton (3m3f, good to soft) in January; flop in the Eider at Newcastle in February, while good ground may be a problem today; position 7lb out of the handicap certainly is.
Won novice handicap hurdle at Ayr (3m, soft) last April in a first-time hood (tried twice since); only one echo of that form in his five races since, when third in a beginners chase; seemed to be running well when unseating four out in a Grade 2 on penultimate start but pulled up when 12-1 for the Scottish National on latest; 7lb out of the handicap.
Ran poorly in December on sole visit here; tongue-tie went on when he won all three starts since (Huntingdon, Warwick and Newbury) and, following wind surgery, he's done it pretty smoothly on last two occasions; however, he's not proven beyond an extended 2m7f (this is his first run much beyond 3m) and is now 8lb out of the handicap, on top of latest 7lb rise.
Took well to chasing on good/good to soft at Cheltenham initially this term, arriving late on the scene; he'd finished strongly over an extended 3m1f but did not get anywhere near to a challenging position when below-form fifth in the 3m6f NH Chase there on latest outing; worth another crack at a marathon trip but he's 10lb out of the handicap.
0-14 since bumper win in 2022; fourth and second in the last two Scottish Nationals, latterly off a reduced mark when wearing second-time cheekpieces two weeks ago; while that was a welcome return to form, position 12lb out of the handicap today demands so much more; 5lb claimer is called up.
Bled from the nose on penultimate start but has otherwise done well switched to chasing this term, notably for two 3m wins at this track (Goshen a close third last time); just a 7yo and a lightly raced one at that, whose style of victory last time (he travelled much the best) suggested he could have plenty more to give, but he's 15lb higher today, thanks largely to his position 12lb out of the handicap.
First foray beyond 3m saw him win the Eider at Newcastle (4m1f, good to soft) in February eased down by 16l; raised 10lb when nowhere near repeating the dose as favourite for the Midlands National (4m2f, good to soft) six weeks ago and he's now an additional 15lb out of the 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 )
