A wickedly competitive handicap with a strong British challenge headed by the Pertemps principals Jeriko Du Reponet and Doddiethegreat, both of whom command the utmost respect. The form of the Coral Cup could also be significant and, despite having only his sixth career start, BECKETT ROCK saw that race out well to finish hot on the heels of Beat The Bat. The selection looks ready for this longer trip. Park Of Kings is another to consider after his eyecatching late gains at Aintree.[Alistair Jones]
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Grade 2-winning novice whose chase career was aborted after one run; solid form in three handicap hurdles since then, last time coming out second best in a ding-dong battle with stablemate Doddiethegreat in the 3m Pertemps Final at Cheltenham (good to soft; first-time cheekpieces); no reason why he won't be very competitive again.
Dual winner who has only raced six times and he stayed on well to finish sixth (just behind Beat The Bat) in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham; smacks of a horse with more to offer, especially as a stayer.
Has clicked in a big way with Brian Hughes on his last two starts (cheekpieces applied), following his second to One Big Bang at Haydock with a gutsy win over Jeriko Du Reponet in the Pertemps Final (3m; tongue-tie added for first time); lightly raced for a 9yo and not fully exposed just yet.
May prefer softer ground ideally and was 8l behind Doddiethegreat on good to soft in the Pertemps Final; essentially progressive, though, and still only a 5yo.
Barely sighted when only 8-1 for the Pertemps Final but had won four of his previous seven over hurdles including a qualifier for that race at Leopardstown; finds himself 10lb higher but likely that he has more in the locker.
Finished third of 22 in a 3m handicap at Leopardstown's DRF in February 2024 and lightly raced since then; won over fences in September before falling at Cheltenham (beaten); current wellbeing is an issue but has form claims.
Didn't take to fences and was pulled up on his return to hurdling in a 3m handicap at Gowran in October; has won four times in this discipline but this is a tough race in which to rediscover his form.
Won well at Carlisle and Sandown (Grade 2 on soft) in first two starts over hurdles and then third in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury and a Grade 2 at Cheltenham (both extended 2m4f); only 6-1 for his handicap debut over 3m at Aintree and departed too early to tell what might have happened; the first-time tongue-tie fitted there is retained; of interest.
Won handicaps at Kilbeggan and Listowel before career-best in winning 3m Grade 3 novice at Cork in December (soft); struggled in a Grade 1 next time and looked in a spot of bother when unseating three out back in a handicap 11 days ago.
Bumper/hurdle/chase winner; only third on handicap debut at Clonmel in November (3m, good) but did race keenly and today's bigger-field scenario could benefit him.
Sometimes let down by his jumping and he was none too fluent at the final flight when beaten about 5l in the Coral Cup (2m5f); wasn't exactly strong through the line that day and others might see this out better at 3m.
Dual Grade 2 winner as a novice, since then his only success has been on the Flat (in October); third of 20 on his return to hurdling at Leopardstown (2m4f) over Christmas and he ran a long way below market expectations in the Coral Cup; even if back on song, there are stamina doubts now sent beyond 2m5f for the first time.
Course winner who returns in tip-top shape after excellent efforts at Cheltenham and Aintree, latterly emerging from well off the pace to be a close fourth over 3m (good); firmly enters the reckoning.
Lightly raced novice who ran well at Ayr despite getting turned over at long odds-on in a three-runner race (winner very capable); did race with the choke out and that was over 2m4f, so will need to give himself a chance of staying this new trip.
Highly progressive handicapper and better than ever when close third in a 3m Listed handicap at Leopardstown in early February (soft; has won on yielding); offered little in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett last time but this is more his scene; wouldn't be without a squeak.
Won a 2m5f Listed handicap chase at Leopardstown in March (yielding) off a 10lb higher mark and never gave his running in a 3m Grade 3 last time; has to be of interest off this figure returned to hurdling and he did beat Spillane's Tower in a novice two years ago.
Ran okay to be beaten about 10l at Aintree (behind Park Of Kings) and that was after a lengthy break; however, he's an exposed dual-purpose performer and others are more intriguing.
Represents Team Mullins but hasn't built on an encouraging start over hurdles and he didn't get home over 3m at Ayr (novice handicap), which wasn't a total surprise given his pedigree.
Career-best to beat Doddiethegreat in a Pertemps Qualifier at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) and didn't run at all badly in the Final; couldn't dismiss with Sean Bowen taking over for the first time.
Strike-rate of 4-11 and 3-9 as a hurdler; stuck on well for third over 2m5f at Ayr and that was after 305 days away; could be sharper for that but JJ Slevin seemingly prefers C'Est Ta Chance.
Has returned from a long absence in good form, last time beating all bar a progressive youngster at Kempton (2m5f, good to soft); does have a bit to prove over this far and vulnerable to rivals less exposed.
Last seen over hurdles winning a Cheltenham novice two years ago, since then he's gone 1-12 over fences; has been off since October and plenty of others appeal more.
2m2f maiden winner who followed in a 3m Grade 3 at Clonmel, making all on soft; the writing was soon on the wall when running no race in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett (good to soft) and may lack the experience for this, and the gears on drying ground.
Unbeaten in a visor, having made all in a 3m maiden at Limerick before following up in a 2m7f Listed handicap last week at Fairyhouse (yielding to soft; chased the leader); on the upgrade but he's 6lb higher here in a tougher race.
First reserve; runner-up in a Grade 2 chase before going missing for nearly 700 days; made a successful return to hurdling at Ayr in January (3m, soft) but this is way tougher than that.
Second reserve; ground too soft and 1m7f too sharp when second at Naas on his first run since finishing eighth in this last year; now a 10yo, others look more likely.
