16/1
Best form has come on the all-weather, where he’s been successful 8 times. Beaten 4¾ lengths in this grade on latest turf start at Pontefract in June. Went off too hard on the back of a quick turnaround at Southwell last time and should at least have benefitted from 10-week break.
14/1
Quirky sort. Went close to following up his Market Rasen maiden hurdle win in a 2m Flat handicap at Galway Festival (soft) in late-July. Still looked to be in form when beaten 15 lengths over hurdles there 4 days later. Should be competitive if putting his best foot forward on return to the Flat.
5/6
Followed up his Leopardstown success (15f) in similarly narrow fashion at Down Royal (18.5f) 8 days ago, holding on gamely to justify strong support. He isn’t fully exposed as a stayer and ought to make a bold bid for a hat-trick.
10/3
Forward-going type who has continued to perform admirably since his success in a 1½m course handicap in the spring. Made it a hat-trick of seconds when beaten 3¼ lengths over C&D last time (has a solid course record) and is still relatively unexposed over this sort of trip. May go one better here.
4/1
Four-time course winner who finished 2¾ lengths third in this corresponding event 12 months ago. Only 1 lb higher than when successful at Carlisle in mid-June, and he confirmed himself back in reasonable heart when beaten 6¼ lengths in a more competitive race at York (2m) 6 days ago.
25/1
Fairly useful stayer. Now 1 lb lower than when doubling his Flat tally with an all-the-way success at Chester (14.5f, heavy) last autumn. Best effort of this year when fourth at Southwell on penultimate start, and he isn’t best judged on his subsequent effort (sat too close to a strong early pace).
80/1
Course winner who ran up to his best when runner-up over C&D last summer. Held back by his temperament for current connections, though, virtually refusing to race in first-time cheekpieces over much shorter here (9f) latest. Remains a risky proposition from 3 lb out of the weights.