The 2025 Coral Gold Cup at Newbury

A maximum field of 24 will face the starter tomorrow for the Coral Gold Cup (2.55 Newbury) run over three miles two furlongs. The going on the chase course is currently described as good to soft but up to 10mm of rain is forecast before the scheduled off-time.

There has only been one Irish winner of the race since 1990 - the Willie Mullins trained Total Recall in 2017 - but this year six of ten Irish trained runners sit at the head the handicap; top weight Monty's Star finished fourth behind Inothewayurthinkin in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March and then third behind Galopin Des Champs in the Punchestown Gold Cup at the end of April.

Current favourite Myretown, trained by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore, hasn't been seen since making all under Patrick Wadge to win the Ultima at the Festival by 11 lengths off a mark of 127 (The Changing Man second, Grandeur d'Ame twelfth, Victtorino and Katate Dori both pulled up). Irked somewhat by such a blatant display of precocity, the handicapper reacted by raising the gelding 15 pounds. 

Earlier this week Lucinda sounded quite bullish, indicating this race has been the target for some time; her charge has taken in a number of racecourse gallops and she clearly believes there's more improvement to come.

Sporting first-time cheekpieces Resplendent Grey won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on the final day of last season (Spanish Harlem fourth, Victtorino seventh, O'Moore Park eleventh). 

He held Handstands over two and a half miles at Carlisle four weeks ago; the cheekpieces weren't in use for that seasonal debut but they're back on tomorrow.

Connections try cheekpieces on The Changing Man for the first time. 

I don't think anyone would begrudge Joe Tizzard's charge a day in the spotlight; the gelding has been a model of consistency - placed in his last seven chase starts - but still has just one chase win to his name, the Reynoldstown at Ascot last February.

The manner in which Katate Dori won last season's Ladbrokes Trophy at Kempton sticks in the mind. 

He beat second placed horse Hyland 15 lengths, with Lowry's Bar pulled up and subsequently reported to have bled from the nose. His mark tomorrow is 12 pounds higher although Dylan Johnson can claim three.

Meanwhile Hyland beat Resplendent Grey conceding three pounds in a Cheltenham novice chase just over 12 months ago. 

Nicky Henderson's charge finished ninth behind Three Card Brag at the same track last month (Inch House sixth), weakening on the approach to the final flight. At the time a lot of the yard's runners needed that first run; the grey seems to appreciate better ground.

Spanish Harlem appears to have benefitted from cheekpieces. 

On his penultimate start, in receipt of six pounds, he beat Three Card Brag four and a half lengths in the Kerry National at Listowel. At level weights here, the pair look evenly matched; both race off career-high marks.

Panic Attack won the Paddy Power Gold Cup over two and a half miles at Cheltenham a fortnight ago. 

Dan Skelton's mare has yet to win over three miles and tries this trip for the first time. Since 2000 only two winners have been aged older than eight: Denman (2009) and Sizing Tennessee (2018).

Third in last year's renewal on seasonal debut, Victtorino tries again off a mark four pounds higher. 

The gelding ran a strange race that day, apparently struggling in rear and not jumping particularly well before making up ground from two out without ever worrying winner Kandoo Kid and Broadway Boy. 

Venetia Williams' charge subsequently won two chases at Ascot, beating The Changing Man on the first occasion. His run in the Ultima (pulled up) is forgiven as he got loose beforehand. The stable won this with Cloudy Glen in 2021 but hasn't been firing on all cylinders so far this year.

Paul Nicholls won this race twice as a jockey, on Broadheath (1986) and Playschool (1987) - both trained by David Barons - and four times as a trainer, with Strong Flow (2003), Denman twice (2007 and 2009) and Kandoo Kid last year.

This year he will be represented by Inch House, described on his blog as a lively outsider who will benefit from the forecast rain. The gelding runs off a mark two pounds out of the handicap.   

To my mind The Doyen Chief may have been outstayed by Deep Cave over three miles on soft ground at Bangor two and a half weeks ago. 

Alan King's charge made a mistake at the last which saw Tom Bellamy lose an iron - he might have prevailed with a better leap at the last but I'm not convinced. Still, every cloud - he's due to go up three pounds but races off 137, the same mark as at Bangor.

Five weeks ago Blizzard Of Oz won at Wexford on his first try beyond two and a half miles. 

Not the best of jumpers, he takes another step up in trip here; speaking on ITV Racing earlier this afternoon Ruby Walsh named this one as probably Willie Mullins' best chance. 

Jockey bookings suggest Gorgeous Tom is the pick of Henry De Bromhead's pair.  

Racing prominently he finished fourth behind Lecky Watson in the Brown Advisory at the Festival and seven weeks later occupied the same position behind Champ Kiely in the three mile novice chase at the Punchestown Festival. The cobwebs were blown away over a shorter trip at Down Royal 28 days ago.

Stablemate Monty's Star carries 12-00 - Mill House carried that same weight to victory in 1963 and Borough Hill Lad in 1984. Arkle won the 1964 and 1965 renewals under a welter burden of 12-07. 

Last Christmas Perceval Legallois won the Listed Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown off 142 (subsequent Grand National winner Nick Rockett fourth, Three Card Brag seventh, Spanish Harlem thirteenth) and then a Listed handicap hurdle at the same track off 135.

Gavin Cromwell's charge was sent off a 10/1 chance for the Aintree Grand National but got no further than the ninth fence.

Philip Hobbs and Johnson White have their team in excellent order - six winners from 24 runs in the past fortnight; Keable won on seasonal debut at the Berkshire track earlier today. 

Lowry's Bar bled when pulled up behind Katate Dori in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Kempton in February. He likes to race up with the pace and his form behind Jagwar at Bangor reads well but speaking after Keable's victory today the handler didn't seem particularly prolix, preferring to highlight the chance of French Ship who goes in the 1.40.

O'Moore Park has yet to win over fences in seven attempts.

On his penultimate start he finished eleventh behind Resplendent Grey over an extended three and a half miles in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (Spanish Harlem fourth, Victtorino seventh). He appeared to weaken from three out that day so the trip could well be within his range.

Annual Invictus has been off the track 581 days. In this week's RP Weekender Chris Gordon says:

"He's going to come on for his runs this season and he's got a high mark.

"Age is catching up with him a wee bit and they'll be tough races wherever we go off this sort of mark, but we've got to start somewhere and Newbury suits him. 

"He'll probably get a bit tired going into the home straight, which you'd expect with a horse who's had a long time off. His ultimate aim will be the bet365 Gold Cup again."

Earlier today Intense Raffles was 66/1 which I thought quite a big price if the forecast rain were to arrive; he's currently half that price.

Conceding three pounds, this one was only beaten threequarters of a length by Nick Rockett in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February. 

However, since moving to Thomas Gibney's yard two years ago, his three wins have all come at Fairyhouse, a right-handed track. He jumped right throughout before being pulled up in the Aintree Grand National but turns up here with the benefit of a prep run at Clonmel three weeks ago. 

At the Trials meeting at Cheltenham in January Moon d'Orange pipped Grandeur d'Ame a short head in a two and a half mile handicap chase; for the most part their best form is around that trip, a comment that also applies to Pic Roc and Riskintheground while A Penny A Hundred goes from out of the handicap. 

A cracking, highly competitive renewal. 

Katate Dori made quite an impression at Kempton in February and had a prep over hurdles at Aintree three weeks ago; with Dylan Johnson claiming three, Sam Thomas' charge gets the vote. The start will be no place for the faint-hearted - I'm hoping to see him race prominently.

Katate Dori is the each-way suggestion, 10/1 generally with bet365 and Unibet among those layers paying six places.

The 2025 Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock

Seventeen are set to face the starter for the Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle (2.25 Haydock) tomorrow; the going on the hurdle course is currently described as good to soft.

Ma Shantou, seventh in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival, comfortably beat Electric Mason two and threequarters lengths at Cheltenham four weeks ago - and looked to have a bit left in the tank as well. 

Amongst those in behind that day were Supremely West (third), Long Draw (fourth); Prince Zaltar (sixth), Gowel Road (eleventh) and Patriotik (twelfth) - those listed also finished behind Kikijo over the same course and distance (on soft ground) last Saturday. Kikijo is now rated 127.

In this week's RP Weekender handler Emma Lavelle says of Ma Shantou:

"I suggested in my recent stable tour that he could step up to Graded company were he to win, and plenty of people have reminded me that we won this with a certain Paisley Park back in 2018.

"He was rated 147 that day and Ma Shantou is on 138, so he has a little way to go, but he's on an upward trajectory and we hope it can keep going." 

Ace Of Spades, owned by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate, won on the Old Roan undercard at Aintree 27 days ago; race reader Richard Lowther commented:

"If he continues to progress, he could be one for Graded contests later in the season." 

In a Sporting Life stable tour article, trainer Dan Skelton subsequently said:

"We are going to try and get him ready for the long distance handicap hurdle at Haydock Park. We could have a couple in that but it would be my intention to have him ready for that. 

"We stepped him up in trip midway through last season and he improved for it. He had a good season. He nicked a race at Cheltenham and not many do that, but we did."

The race referenced was the Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice Maiden Hurdle (17.11.24); last April Ace Of Spades was pipped a head by Billy Boi Blue in a Class 3 handicap hurdle over three miles at Ayr.

Joe Tizzard said of Hartington in his Sporting Life stable tour:

"I thought his final run last season at Windsor was good [four lengths second behind Emma Lavelle trained Guard Duty]. He was just weak last season and he just had a little setback which was enough that we couldn't run him, so we protected his mark a little bit.

"It was a good little race that he won up at Carlisle on Sunday [beat Florida Dreams - declared 1.15 Haydock - a neck, Karafon seventh 02.11.25], but we thought his Windsor run had worked out really well and we thought he had improved over the summer.

We went up there for that pot and it came off. It was a lovely first run and it looks like we could step him up to three miles now."  

Horaces Pearl looked a smart prospect winning at Newbury in February but, when last seen, his jumping remained a work in progress.

Jingko Blue sprawled on landing and unseated Nico De Boinville in the Reynoldstown at Ascot nine months ago; his hurdle mark (145) is six pounds lower than his chase mark and Brian Hughes rides. Stablemate Jango Baie, in the same ownership, won the Arkle at the Festival and goes in the Ladbrokes 1965 Chase (1.30 Ascot).

The Skelton second string Joyeux Machin is no mug. 

This gelding underwent wind surgery after finishing seventh behind Rambo T in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow six weeks ago. Back in March he looked to have a Class 2 handicap hurdle in the bag at Uttoxeter but was run out of it by Red Risk in the shadow of the post (Phantomofthepoints seventh). This one was put up by the Racing Post's Graeme Rodway as a horse to follow this season (RP Weekender 05-09.11.25). 

Navajo Indy won the Gerry Feilden at Newbury in November and was marked down as an eyecatcher when third behind Joyeuse and Lump Sum in the William Hill Hurdle (formerly known as the Betfair Hurdle and once upon a time as the Schweppes) at the same track in February, spotted doing his best work from two out. 

On seasonal debut four weeks ago he finished second behind French Ship over two and a half miles at Cheltenham and tries three miles for the first time here. Trainer Tom Symonds has sent out four winners from eight runners in the past fortnight.

Irish raider Shoot First won last year's renewal (with Phantomofthepoints third) off a mark of 139 (Alex Harvey claiming five); he races off 145 tomorrow with Benjamin Macey claiming seven. 

It's no surprise to see connections of Electric Mason decide to reoppose Ma Shantou, eight pounds better off when Freddie Gordon's three pound claim is taken into consideration. 

Best on good to soft, the gelding belied odds of 40/1 in the Challow, losing two places in the final 110 yards when fifth behind The New Lion, before finishing down the field in the Martin Pipe. 

Nab Wood appeared to win with something in hand off the steady pace set by Esprit Du Potier at Ayr three weeks ago. 

Nicky Richards' charge, sporting a sheepskin noseband, wasn't always fluent at the hurdles that day and looked as though he'd probably appreciate a stronger pace. Esprit Du Potier finished five lengths adrift in fourth, having lost third on the run to the line, and reopposes six pounds better off.

Titan Discovery won over this trip at Windsor in January and missed his intended comeback in the Welsh Champion Hurdle on account of the ground. Robbie Llewellyn identified this one as his trainer's pick in a 'Straight from the Stable' article (RP Weekender 31.01-04.02.24); sister Lunar Discovery moved to the yard from Jimmy Moffat's over the summer.  

Joint top weight Harbour Lake pipped Tiny Tetley over course and distance on good ground in May and has been raised five pounds for that effort while Phantomofthepoints, part owned by Kenny Alexander, tends to race prominently and won off this mark at Wincanton in January. 

Veteran Red Risk looks to face a stiff task on seasonal debut and would probably prefer more testing conditions.

I Love My Baie and Karafon are both in the ownership of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. The former has had three runs since a spell on the sidelines while the latter was moved out the Willie Mullins yard over the summer.

Recent winners (with official ratings and SP) include:

2018 Paisley Park; 148; 4/1

2020 Main Fact; 147; 13/2

2021 Dans Le Vent; 135; 16/1

2022 Botox Has; 144; 17/2

2023 Slate Lane; 127; 11/4f

2024 Shoot First; 139; 22/1

The market leader has been placed in six of the past ten renewals but Slate Lane remains the only favourite to have obliged in that timeframe.

On the shortlist Navajo Indy and Electric Mason; Nab Wood was of some interest but his jumping the last day was, on occasions, a cause for concern.

I've missed the price about Navajo Indy so Electric Mason is the each-way suggestion, at the time of writing 9/1 with bet365, Betfred and Ladbrokes / Coral among those who are paying five places. 

To finish, another in an occasional series of random racing references overheard on the telly. 

Bella Ainsworth (Natascha McElhone), on welcoming family guests to the eponymous Hotel Portofino which she runs on the Italian Riviera for the rich and the wealthy, helpfully explains in hushed tones:

"Grand Papa is in Epsom, and Aunt Amelia in Aintree."

I've still to discover who spent the night in the Newton Abbot.

The 2025 Paddy Power Gold Cup

Tomorrow's Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.20 Cheltenham) is to be run in memory of Irish trainer Edward O'Grady who sent out 18 Festival winners between 1974 and 2006.

He trained Tranquil Sea to win this race in 2009 - and we haven't seen an Irish winner since. Five have crossed the Irish Sea to take their chance tomorrow. 

The going at Cheltenham is currently described as soft, good to soft in places, with a precautionary inspection called for 7.30 tomorrow morning as further heavy rain associated with Storm Claudia is forecast. 

Talking to ITV cameras before this afternoon's finale, clerk of the course Jon Pullen pointed out the rain was due to stop around 1.00 am and, with drying conditions, he was 'hopeful' racing could go ahead - the card would be given every chance.     

A final field of fifteen was declared on Thursday but this evening top weight and market leader Jagwar has been declared a non-runner on account of the ground. 

Vicenzo, a big horse who goes well fresh and generally needs time between his races, has replaced Jagwar at the head of the market. Sam Thomas' charge has yet to win over this trip but the stable has sent out five winners from seven runners in the past fortnight. 

Last year's winner Il Ridoto tries to repeat the trick this time off a mark just one pound higher.

Paul Nicholls' inmate raced from out the handicap that day but caries 11-08 tomorrow which indicates this year's running wouldn't be considered the highest quality renewal - last year top weight Protektorat was rated 167 and five others runners in the field of 15 ran off a mark in the 150s.

The lowest rated winner in the past decade is Coole Coady (137) in 2020.

Dan Skelton saddles three -  Panic Attack, Hoe Joly Smoke and Riskintheground. 

Harry rides the mare Panic Attack which suggests she's the stable's best chance - in a recent stable tour article the handler said:

"The plan is to give her one run and go for the Paddy Power Gold Cup."

She hasn't had that one run - last seen out at Warwick in February - and spent more time hurdling than chasing last season. Three of her five chase starts have been in mares' only races which I find off-putting but clearly this has been the target for some time and the stable is operating at a 26% win strike rate over the past fortnight.

On seasonal debut stablemate Hoe Joly Smoke ran well at this track over three miles one furlong when third behind Three Card Brag three weeks ago. 

Connections subsequently indicated they felt their charge didn't see the trip out that day as they'd done plenty of work with the horse and fitness wasn't the issue - the gelding has won over three miles but not beyond. I feel the step back to two and a half miles wouldn't necessarily suit - yet to win over the distance under rules - although the rain should help his stamina come into play.

Riskintheground won the Silver Trophy Handicap Chase on the New Course in April (Il Ridoto over ten lengths adrift in seventh) but his form is mostly on decent ground.

Thecompanysergeant finished two and threequarters lengths behind Jagwar in the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase at the Festival in March (Il Ridoto over 20 lengths adrift in twelfth). On a strict reading of that form he was closely matched with Jagwar but Gavin Cromwell's gelding hasn't been in the same form this summer and has drifted out to 9/1 with some layers.

Henry De Bromhead saddles two - Coming Up Easy and the mare Theatre Native.

Last year Lets Go Champ raced prominently before eventually finishing third for the yard; Coming Up Easy is a progressive front runner in a rich vein of form having won his last three starts in Ireland, the last a Listed handicap chase at Killarney. This one has won a Limerick maiden hurdle over two miles five on heavy ground and didn't appear to stay three miles behind Three Card Brag at Navan in January.

The booking of Sean Bowen for Theatre Native is interesting; she won the Aston Martin Mares' Novices' Handicap Chase on the New Course in April.

When the rain arrives, so does money for Venetia Williams trained runners - Hunter Legend has more than halved in price over the past 24 hours. He has won five of his 11 chase starts; this will be the first chase he has contested with more than eight runners in the field.

Hold-up ride Conyers Hill was sixth behind Jazzy Matty in the Grand Annual in March and has yet to win over this trip while veteran Es Perfecto doesn't have a lot of miles on the clock and finished fifth behind Caldwell Potter in the Jack Richards at the Festival in March (run on the New Course) - that day he lost three places after the final fence. 

The last horse older than nine to come home in front was Clear Cut in 1975.

While Bad has turned out to be rather good since blinkers were fitted for the first time in January - he has won three of his six chase starts - the arrival of rain looks a bit of a negative for Ben Pauling's runner. Lady Cricket, the last mare to come home in front, won the 2000 renewal as a six year old and since then only four horses have replicated the feat: Celestial Gold (2004); Exotic Dancer (2006); Johns Spirit (2013); and Ga Law (2002).

Stablemate of Thecompanysergeant The Other Mozzie finished a further two places behind Es Perfecto in seventh in the Jack Richards and hasn't won beyond two miles two furlongs while Issar D'Airy's form over two miles with Martator and Libberty Hunter reads well enough.

In summary, not the highest quality renewal of the race once known as the Mackeson Gold Cup and it's no real surprise to see connections decide to withdraw Jagwar - which has seen prices contract.

Hoe Joly Smoke and Coming Up Easy were the two each-way chances under consideration; Henry De Bromhead's charge gets the nod although the handicapper doesn't appear to have been overly lenient with a mark of 142.

Coming Up Easy is the each-way suggestion, currently 9/1 with bet365 and William Hill both paying four places, provided, of course, the card passes tomorrow morning's inspection. 

Footnote

I've spent a lifetime struggling to sort the wheat from the chaff and I realise it must be even harder for blog readers, so here's a helpful little pointer.

Last month, in a post entitled 'Hoping to come on for the run', I indicated Deep Cave was worth a second look in the Native River Handicap Chase at Chepstow. After winning the opening handicap hurdle at Aintree on Grand National day, trainer Christian Williams had said of his charge:

"It's probably taken us a long time to figure him out, but we thought he'd be better on nice ground and he's going to be very special over fences next year. He won a novice chase in France, so he's not a novice, but hopefully he'll be a Saturday horse."

In the event Deep Cave didn't run at Chepstow on account of the ground but he did contest the Weatherbys and Birdie Calendars Handicap Chase at Bangor on Wednesday - and won at odds of 11/1.

Did you bet it, PG?

Good Lord! No! Who ever backs a Saturday horse on a Wednesday?

Factual correction published 15.11.25 @ 17:15

Happy Diva was the last mare to win the race - in 2019 - not Lady Cricket as stated above. 

The 2025 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase

Ordinarily I wouldn't be inclined to give you so much as a 'More tea, vicar?' for an episode of Murder Before Evensong, Channel 5's TV adaptation of Richard Coles' novel set in the 1980s, but last night, as my wife took in the finer detail of the fifth instalment, my own interest was piqued by Canon Daniel Clement's mother Audrey  - played with a delightful serving of old school sanctimony by Amanda Redman - popping into the village on Grand National day for a copy of the Racing Post. At that time a copy of the Racing Post would have cost considerably less than £5.50. 

Having studied the form, Audrey likes the look of Strands Of Gold for Aintree's 1988 showpiece. 

Meanwhile Dora Sharman (Amanda Hadingue), one of two middle aged sisters who live together, walks straight into a licenced betting office, extracts two substantial wads of cash from her handbag, and asks to stick the lot on Rhyme 'N' Reason. 'To win,' adds Dora, with a certain air of determination, obviously intent on making a killing. Recently I had a £70 bet on a 9/4 chance knocked back by a rails bookmaker at Ludlow. 

Various clips from the race are weaved into the storyline, complete with Sir Peter O'Sullevan's commentary: Strands Of Gold falls at Becher's second time around when in the lead, much to Audrey's dismay; Little Polveir takes up the running but unseats; Rhyme 'N' Reason is headed two out by Durham Edition but fights back tenaciously to lead on the long run-in, much to Dora's delight. 

A wonderful race;  and, of course, Little Polveir returned the following year to win.

Tomorrow's Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (2.40 Aintree) is run over two miles five furlongs over the National fences but these days they're nowhere near as stiff as they were in the 1980s; 17 are set to face the starter with the going currently described as good to soft, with soft places located primarily from Becher's Brook to the fence after Valentines.

Skirting quickly over the form, two points catch my eye. 

A few in the field have form over three miles and further while only six have run in the past 60 days: Jet Plane (54 days); If Not For Dylan (13); Vintage Fizz (54); Mahons Glory (24); Seddon (15 Flat); and Mount Tempest (27). 

Last year King Turgeon collected the spoils off a mark of 125, with Vintage Fizz second, Gaboriot third, and Frero Banbou sixth. 

David Pipe's grey put in some spectacular leaps that day but appears to have considerably more on his plate off 137 tomorrow on his first run for 242 days; the likelihood is this will have been a target, probably for the past 12 months.

Ollie Greenall and Josh Guerriero hold a strong hand with Gaboriot and White Rhino; the yard won the 2023 renewal with the ill-fated Gesskille, with the same horse pipped a nose by Al Dancer the year before. 

Gaboriot, four and a half lengths third behind King Turgeon last year, races off a mark three pounds lower this time; all his chase victories in this country have come over three miles or further. 

White Rhino is priced up favourite and the booking of Sean Bowen catches the eye. 

Although nine years of age, the gelding still only has four chase starts to his name and he failed to complete in two of those - unseated at the third in the Kauto Star at Kempton and then last time pulled up before two out in the Grimthorpe at Doncaster where he was found to have bled from the nose. Connections clearly expect a big run but the lack of chase experience is a concern.

Owned by J P McManus, top weight Johnnywho has form in the book but looks to face a stiff task. 

His third behind The Jukebox Man in the Grade 2 John Francome at Newbury reads well, and he was only beaten a neck in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham in March. He didn't appear to stay the extended trip when finishing a respectable fifth behind Haiti Couleurs in the Irish Grand National National at Fairyhouse.

Sam Thomas knows how to target a race - he won the 2022 renewal with Al Dancer. Our Power can go well fresh and has been backed but hasn't raced over this sort of trip since January 2022.   

Excello looked to be in with a shout in this year's Topham back in April but a bad mistake two out put paid to his chance; he goes off a mark two pounds lower here.

Colonel Harry has useful novice form in the book. 

He won the 2024 Towton at Wetherby, was third in the Scilly Isles at Sandown, and then sixth in the Turners at Cheltenham that March. He didn't appear to stay the trip when sent off a 10/1 chance for last year's Coral Gold Cup at Newbury and hasn't been seen since a fall at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. 

Vintage Fizz finished three and a quarter lengths behind Jagwar at Wetherby before running second in last year's renewal off 127. 

His sixth behind Ballysax Hank in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen is perfectly respectable but he has been well beaten on his two most recent starts, showing a tendency to jump left on occasions at Worcester the last day. That said, he's three pounds lower this time and the booking of Sam Twiston-Davies catches my eye. 

A fine leap at the Canal Turn took Frero Banbou past King Turgeon and into the lead last year.

Venetia Williams' charge travelled like the winner crossing the Melling Road but he just ran out of petrol between the final two flights, eventually finishing sixth. Third in the 2023 renewal, I just wonder whether his best chances of a win in the race are already behind him.

Jet Plane's second behind Gracchus De Baume over this course and distance in the Foxhunters in April - beaten a length - reads well; Team Skelton banged in three winners at Exeter this afternoon and another at Hexham.

Better known for his exploits on the Flat, Dylan Cunha saddles Mahons Glory who likes to front run but can jump left on occasions. This one has tended to show better form on good ground.

If Not For Dylan is another who races prominently and was third behind Torn And Frayed in a veterans' chase over the Mildmay fences 13 days ago; he's two pounds out of the handicap. 

He jumped slightly right that day but a quick look over his form reveals that on occasions he has jumped left on a right-handed track. The yard registered a double at Hexham earlier today with Out Of The Woods and Hay Meadow.

Bleu d'Enfer has his first start for Donald McCain. Previously trained in Ireland, to date he has been campaigned primarily on right-handed tracks when racing over fences.

On his last two starts Nocte Volatus finished behind The Flier Begley and Dubai Days in veterans' chases. 

Seddon and Happy And Fine both tend to be prominent in their races; age is catching up with the former while the latter has shown a preference for soft and heavy ground. 

Finally a word for rank outsider Mount Tempest who moved from Dan Skelton's yard to Sophie Leech this summer. 

After a couple of nondescript efforts over hurdles at Clairefontaine and Dieppe in France, he was sent off a 50/1 chance for a handicap chase at Worcester which he won at odds of 50/1, Jet Plane over ten lengths away in fifth and Vintage Fizz over 30 lengths adrift in seventh. Next time, with Sean Bowen up, he went off a 3/1 shot but ran a bit of a stinker behind Saint Segal and was pulled up in the home straight; after the race the handler indicated the gelding was not suited by the good to firm going. 

He's something of a curate's egg and wouldn't be considered the most reliable of individuals but a year ago he finished fourth behind Jagwar at Bangor and on a good day, with the going on the soft side, I could see Mount Tempest outrunning odds of 66/1. 

A competitive renewal which is likely to be run at a good clip with a few in the field keen to set the pace. After winning on Theonewedreamof at Exeter earlier this afternoon, jockey Harry Skelton had a word for Jet Plane who has been backed this evening.

I'm going to chance Mount Tempest who didn't do a tap when hitting the front at Worcester; he'll need to keep a tab on those front runners from the start. 

I certainly won't be taking a leaf out of Dora Sharman's book but I will be saying my prayers just before the off.   

Mount Tempest is the each-way suggestion, at the time of writing 66/1 with William Hill, BetVictor and Coral, all paying five places.