A fantastic renewal of the race with a Gold cup winner, several winners of this race and some exposed and unesposed top quality long distance Handicap Chasers.

 

Lets start with the favourite and we definitely suggest an each way TIP on SECRET REPRIEVE. An impressive winner last year, the Yard is transitioning from one that could train and win big races with good horses in to one that is seriously challenging the top 2-3 Trainers now for big weekend winners on a regular basis. I don't think Evan Williams will ever get the credit he deserves and every big race winner is a further example of the outstanding progress he has made.

 

SECRET REPRIEVE ticks every box, the lack of a run is a niggleing doubt but we've seen others from the Yard come out and run great races fresh and everything conditions wise has come right for the horse and no doubt for one second that we didn't want to invest in it today.

 

I am simply not sure that the market has got Deise Aba; Hold That Thought; Iwilldoit or Hill Sixteen right today. All are good horses and can and have won big races and will win big races but for me not today.

 

There are plenty with Course and Distance and race form that could return to that sort of form and as such are huge dangers. Potters Corner won this in 2019, runs off 5lbs less, desperately unlucky in my opinion to losr the 2020 Grand National opportunity due to Covid closedown, granted he won the virtual national for us; but a horse at peak at that time who'll never get the opportunity to win the biggest of them all. Ran better over X-Country at Cheltenham last time and hopefully he runs a big race today. Elegant Escape won this in 2018 and another whose luck since hasn't been the best, he could revive but it looks a tough mark but wish him all the best of luck here as of course from the same Tizzard yard we do Native Rider, won this in 2016 and then the 2017 Gold Cup, it would be a fantastic training performance to get his back off top weight here.

 

There are plenty of other dangers like Achille for Venetia Williams, gets the trip, but i just feel not quite good enough but capable of an enhanced place at best, Kimberlite Candy who has some seriously strong long distance Chase form a Course winner and likely to be staying on past beaten horses in to a place but disappointing last time and maybe the miles are catching up with it, Mighty Thunder very much in form last season and progressing at a rate of knots, has had a hurdles run but might just prefer better ground and my hunch is they will be more interested in similar opportunities in the Spring and may not wish to bottom the horse out in a slog here, we'll see... Ramsees De Teillee is another with form in this race, runner up in 2018, they go for cheekpieces and it could run a big race again for the Pipe yard.

 

I'm not sure how well handicapped The big Dog actually is nor if the Course nor conditions will suit, you always fear an Irish raider but equally they can skewer the market and create value elsewhere.

 

In addition to SECRET REPRIVE therefore I was left with 3 who I want to have investment on today.

 

HIGHLAND HUNTER for Paul Nicholls is a progressive horse, suited by the trip and conditions likes it soft and heavy and I just feel that it's make or break this season for this horse in terms of transferring potential in to that defining big race win. He ticks every box, is a nice each way price and one I still think has scope.

 

CAPTAIN DRAKE at a bigger price for Harry Fry was 4th in this last year off a mark of 140, is 6lbs outside the handicap but a 3lbs claimer effectively gets some of that back so it'll carry 3lbs more than handicap mark, it's proven here in these conditions and on Uttoxeter form actually proven over 4 miles plus, I just think it's like Highland Hunter as being one whose time is now.

 

I can't leave out the other nIcholls runner either at huge odds TRUCKERS LODGE a Course winner, 7th in this in 2020 off a mark of 155, wiiner of a Midlands National over 4 miles plus in heavy and runner up in 2019 in this race off 139, off 150 here it can clearly do some damage and run an enhanced place at big odds.