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A very competitive heat and SPIRITOFTHEGAMES is suggested, though a case can be made for many of the field. The selection has run well in three valuable handicaps since winning on his Lingfield return and the step back up to this trip should play to his strengths. was chinned on the line in last year’s Scottish Champion Hurdle but races off the same mark today and rates a threat. So does
after his performance at Cheltenham last month. This course brings out the best in
and he could go well at big odds. It is difficult to oppose GLOBAL CITIZEN after his very easy success from at Kempton. The runner-up didn’t lay a glove on him after the selection cruised throughout the race and won easing down by nine lengths. This is tougher but he is now unbeaten since joining Ben Pauling. showed his Huntingdon run to be all wrong when second in the Fred Winter and is of interest along with
He couldn’t live with the classy Samcro last time but still posted a solid effort and is a horse with bags of potential. The step up to this distance has brought about improvement from
and he must have a leading chance after his Cheltenham success.
did not jump with any fluency in the RSA at Cheltenham and finished three lengths behind third-placed Both could be involved in the finish if they pick their feet up but TERREFORT gets the nod. He is unproven at today’s trip but is bred to appreciate it and the form of his last two races has worked out well. The absence of the brilliant Altior leaves this at the mercy of MIN, who chased him home in the Champion Chase. That level of form stands out in this company and he has already shown he stays this trip after a facile victory on his seasonal return. jumped and travelled supremely well in the Ryanair before running out a very easy winner from the useful Un De Sceaux. That was a step up on anything he had shown before and he looks the main threat providing he is in the same sort of form. Last year’s shock 50-1 winner
is back for another crack and his best effort since that success was on his return here in December. It would be folly to say he couldn’t follow up but OO SEVEN, fourth 12 months ago, is preferred. He has run some good races in defeat this season and is a very solid jumper. So is
who loves it here and has won the Becher once and placed in it twice. Both the consistent and
who was quietly fancied for this race last year, could make their presence felt. SANTINI hit a flat spot at Cheltenham but stayed on resolutely for third place and is worth another chance. Just in front of him was stablemate,
who has strong claims if in the same mood. A third runner from the yard,
ran a shocker in the same race after looking a really progressive sort. If you forgive him that run then he enters the argument. The mare, is in receipt of weight from her rivals and impressed at Newbury. She may have more to offer and is bred to appreciate today’s distance. There has been plenty of support for Danny Kirwan, who proved two lengths too good for at Kempton. However, the runner-up has a 7lb pull and there should be little to choose between them.
was another to impress at the Sunbury track and there is a form line that suggests another Kempton winner SEVARANO may prove the stronger. He ran right away from his field in the style of a really classy recruit.