Spotlight

Won three-runner novice chase by 17l at Newbury (2m, soft; first-time blinkers) in February but that form is tricky to evaluate, and he was pulled up in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March; still needs to prove he can handle his current handicap mark and that he's fully effective on the forecast good ground.

Comment

Form of wide-margin novice win in February is tricky to evaluate; pulled up since

Stable Tour

"I was delighted with his reappearance. He jumped very well and travelled well too, but he just made a mistake two out and finished nicely without troubling the leaders. That was a positive run for him mentally as well as physically. I'll probably keep him over hurdles next time out. 07-11-25"

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Medical History

Spotlight

Made all in three-runner mares' chase at Wincanton (1m7f, good) last month and is now 4-8 over fences; faces tougher task from 3lb out of the weights here but is evidently in good nick, and new jockey Isabelle Ryder claims 5lb.

Comment

Made all in three-runner mares' chase last month and is now 4-8 over fences

Stable Tour

"She lost her way a bit last season in the mud, but she has more to give off her handicap mark on decent ground and will jump a fence in time. 06-11-24"

"She started in those new junior hurdle races last season and won twice, while also finishing fourth at Listed level and in a Cheltenham Grade 3. I think she's unexposed because it might be hard for the handicapper to get a grip on those races. She's matured and strengthened, and the Grade 2 EBF mares' race at Newbury next spring could be a target for her. 28-09-23"

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Spotlight

Safely held at last month's Aintree festival but back in calmer waters here and now back on same mark as for win at Haydock (2m4f, good to soft) in December; will be fine over this trip; might be the answer.

Comment

Won off this mark in December and will find this race easier than Aintree last month

Stable Tour

"He won at Doncaster last November and was full of running at Wetherby when he had the most horrendous fall. In Carlisle's Go North final, he probably would have won if he hadn't missed the last. That's just him - he's got that in him. He wants two-mile handicaps round the big tracks. I've always thought there's a decent chase in him when it all clicks. 30-10-25"

"He is a lovely horse who made a very pleasing start to his career when a close third in a Hereford bumper last spring. This season we gave him his first run over hurdles at Bangor in November where he was a nice seven-length winner. Unfortunately, he has had a little setback since, but he is back in work again and we are trying to get him back. he is a big horse who can be quite hard on himself, and he takes a bit of managing. We will stick to hurdles for now but next season he could evolve into a decent northern handicapper on soft ground. 09-02-23"

Spotlight

Won valuable handicaps on good to soft ground at Cheltenham (2m) and Ascot (2m1f) last autumn; safely held in Grand Annual at Cheltenham Festival in March and not seen to best effect on heavy ground at Ayr last month but comes here on a workable mark and must be considered.

Comment

Not seen to best effect on heavy ground last month; bagged two big prizes last autumn

Stable Tour

"He won two good handicaps in the autumn and ran well enough in the Game Spirit on ground that he wouldn't have liked, but the Champion Chase looks too big an ask and we may well claim off him in the Grand Annual instead. 17-02-26"

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Medical History

Spotlight

Well below best during five-race campaign last season and absent since pulled up on soft ground in February; had wind surgery the following month, though, and ought to be better suited by the forecast quicker conditions here; too well handicapped to rule out; swaps visor for refitted blinkers.

Comment

Well below best last season but had wind op in March; too well handicapped to rule out

Stable Tour

"He's been a star for us. He looked a bit ring-rusty at Wetherby and we might go back over hurdles and then aim him at nice handicap chases in the spring. He gets two and a half miles and needs it to be really strongly run when he goes over two. 20-11-25"

"I don't know whether he's got a bit old and clever now, but he won't go on soft ground at all. We're going to give him a few weeks off and then look to run him in some nice hurdle races over the summer. We might take him to France to run in hurdles over there. He's well handicapped if we can get him back. 13-03-26"

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Medical History

Spotlight

Always comes with risk, given his jumping often lacks fluency and that he apparently needs to be held up in rear, but he's effectively 7lb lower than when keeping on well for second in valuable Ascot handicap (2m1f, good) in November and will be suited by this return to forecast good ground; blinkered for last two runs; cheekpieces tried today.

Comment

Comes with risk but he's well handicapped and will be suited by a return to good ground

Stable Tour

"I've always absolutely loved this horse. We wanted to run in the Red Rum at Aintree but he had a lameness issue and he's been late in so won't start until the spring. We hope we can get him in handicaps at the big spring festivals, possibly the Grand Annual. 14-11-24"

"We finally got to grips with him last season. He took well to chasing and we made the most of his mark, winning three before he was beaten at Bangor, where he was in a better race and we found out stamina isn't his forte. He's more of a two-miler and we could look to target a nice £28,000 race at Aintree on November 11. 12-10-23"

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Medical History

Spotlight

Good-ground specialist who made all in small field at Wetherby (1m7f, good) on latest outing in the autumn, his 11th chase success; won when fresh last spring but is slightly out of the weights here and may find younger rivals better handicapped.

Comment

Signed off with good-ground win in the autumn; may find younger rivals better handicapped

Stable Tour

"An incredible horse who cost £800 and has won more than £100,000. We've been waiting for the ground with him and he's in really good form. His last run was at Wetherby in October when he won in a course record time. Sean [Bowen] just loves his attitude and while he's got that enthusiasm, he'll keep going. He likes sharp tracks - quick ground round Stratford suits him - and we'll go where we get those conditions. 08-04-26"

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Medical History