The one to beat here according to the market is Ree Oka from the Harry Fry yard and ex P2P horse, progressive over hurdles and runner up in it's only Novice Chase, it makes handicap debut over Fences off 129, could be anything frankly but this Course takes some jumping and it'll be interesting to see how good the horse is.

 

Tile Tapper who was a nice winner off 115 and starts 2022 - 2023 season off a mark of 124 and Skakem Up Harry for the in form Pauling yard who has won fresh but who steps up in trip, both make their seasonal debuts and probably will benefit from the run but certainly both should be winning races soon. Alnadam for another in form yard (Skeltons) also makes a seasonal reappearance, it needed a run last season and this one may also prefer a bit more cut in the ground.

 

Ede'Iffs Elton is solid in the grade and was running well when falling last time but usually best at 3 miles and may find this trip o the short side, Gladiateur Allen won on this card last year over course and distance off a mark of 126 went up to 136 and struggled and now back to a mark of 130, it's one to TRACK forwards for signes it has refund form and a mark it can win off. Maypole Class epitomises the Jonjo yard a bit, it either wins impressively of gets Pulled Up / Finishes last, it too is on seasonal debut so can only be watched.

 

My pair against this lot are GALOP DE CHASSE and NATIVE ROBIN.

 

GALOP DE CHASSE has had an impressive seasonal debut for Venetia Williams, the Yard has clicked into gear now and having has a couple of wins last season and a progressive profile, fRench form suggests the slight step up in trip can bring more improvement. The price looks value as the top end of the market is compacted.  At the other end of the market NATIVE ROBIN , who is in the TRACKER is over-priced for the in-form Jeremy Scott and Rex Dingle partnership . It had 4 wins off marks from 113 to 125 last season, it's had a run, gets in off a mark of 128 and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they used that bit of race fitness to run prominently and try to get a few making seasonal debut to be out of their comfort zones and looking for a second wind turning in.

 

 

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A marathon trip and some old favourites.

 

Very tight again in this at the top of the market and whilst I fear Alminar (won on seasonal debut but a real niggle on past evidence about this trip), De Young Warrior (makes seasonal debut, has won fresh but the mark of 127 looks tough) and Don Herbager (Venetia Williams on seasonal debut, won over trip impressively to end last season but up 12lbs for that and usually needs a run or two), I'll look elsewhere today.

 

Favouri De Sivola had 2 wins last season after a wind operation, runs off a race winning mark but may just now be at peak of its mark ceiling and vulnerable , a danger nonetheless. Beatthebullet is a big priced for Rebecca Curtis and has a Course win at 3 miles off 127, has slipped to 112 and wouldn't be a complete surprise if it suddenly popped up somewhere. Ask Cory is another at a price, it's in the TRACKER but that's on Irish form for De bromhead, I'm sure Kayley Woolacott will get a win out of it but probably not today and may be over a 3 mile strip?

 

I found it hard to separate SILVER IN DISGUISE who has won over this trip at Chepstow off a mark of 113 and runs off 117 here and TOMMIE BEAU who was progressive in lower grades over Hurdles, then in Class 4 and eventually Class 3 Chases and who has had a couple of runs and gets blinkers today off a mark of 122. I ultimately think TOMMIE BEAU is a real battler and ideally suited to this jumping test (hopefully it is a proper jumping test and no low sun)

 

The one I confidently fancy though is LIGHT FLICKER who comes from the in form Ryan Potter yard, it has wins off 97 and 102, form at the trip and race fit and I think is ready to step up in this grade over longer distances.

 

IF they end up missing half the fences I'd have a late shrapnel e/w on Silver In Disguise but my mail selections are Light Flicker and Tommie Beau