Topweight IMPECUNIOUS ended last season with two good efforts at Chepstow and may have a bit more to offer. He is selected ahead of last year's winner Supreme Yeats, while Hillsin, Mactavish and Stage Show also warrant consideration.[Chris Wilson]
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Rewarded strong market support when opening account at Chepstow (2m3f, good) last month and backed up that performance with creditable third of 15 there (2m7f, good) a fortnight later; leading contender.
Pulled up after bad jumping error in Cheltenham hunter chase this month but won a point on debut for the Ralph stable in April and is well handicapped on some of last year's hurdling form for the O'Neill stable; a possible.
Seems versatile regarding ground and has slipped to a workable mark but was inconsistent for Simon Earle last year and fell quite heavily on last month's stable debut; others look safer.
Won three in a row for Alan Jones last spring (2m2f-2m4f) and bounced back from poor stable debut when placed at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) this month; can do better if more relaxed in early stages here; one to consider.
Dual novice winner here (2m2f, good) for Dan Skelton last June but started off for Henry Oliver with three underwhelming handicap hurdle runs in March/April (2m3f-2m7f) and has since suffered a heavy defeat on the Flat; needs to get career back on track.
Came second in Sedgefield maiden (2m4f, good to soft) in February but the form isn't anything to get too excited about and she managed only fourth of six in handicap over that C&D this month; moves up in trip and swaps cheekpieces for first-time visor here.
Absent since finishing second off today's mark at Worcester (2m4f, good) in September but won this race when fresh on stable debut a year ago (good ground); obvious claims if fully tuned up.
Lightly raced since winning readily by 6l here (2m2f, good to soft) in April 2023 but will be fine over today's longer trip and returns from his latest layoff on a workable mark; market may guide.
Three-time hurdle winner (2m4f-2m5f, good); kept on well for clear second at Hereford (2m3f, good) this month, after a break, and ought to be better suited by this longer trip; big player if that run did him good.
Scored at Southwell (2m4f, good) on latest hurdling start in November and was also successful on AW in January but didn't fire on the Flat last month and others in this line-up have more pressing claims.
Won Sedgefield maiden (2m1f, good) in first-time cheekpieces last month but has not really built on that performance in her three subsequent handicaps (2m-2m3f) and is not straightforward; tries new trip here.
0-18 over hurdles; placed a few times when trained by Billy Aprahamian and was respectable third for new stable at Worcester (2m4f, good) this month but others appeal more for win purposes; cheekpieces refitted.
0-11 over hurdles but bounced back to form and went down fighting when second at Taunton (2m3f, good to firm) last month; tries a new trip here; can make presence felt if in the right mood again.
