the prophet

The 7yo was decent over hurdles, and he returned from a seven-month break with a nice 3L handicap win at the start of the month on his chase debut, earning a high RPR rating. He can take a step forward, and a similar level of form in this Grade 2 novice chase would make him a big player.

The 8-year-old was a good handicap chase winner five weeks ago, the front two pulling clear of the rest. He was returning from an eleven-month break. Top yard and jockey, and he could be set for a good campaign. A 4 lb higher mark might not stop him in this handicap.

The 4-year-old has 3 wins from 5 starts. He was an impressive 9-length winner four weeks ago at Kempton in a Listed contest, posting a high RPR rating. He carries a 3 lb penalty in this Listed contest for that win, but he should have more progress in him, and he is a previous winner at this track.

Solid form over hurdles from the 7yo in his last campaign. Back from a six-month break with a recent 3L handicap hurdle win, doing it very easily off a high 148 rating. He should be a big player in this Grade 2 novice hurdle. Three of his six rivals met in a Grade 2 at the start of the month, very closely matched, but they all had a hard race, which is a negative for them.

The 5-year-old has the joint-highest rating in this Listed contest. Four runs this year. Respectable run in Group 1 company when last seen, and he comes here fresh after a four-month break. He was a winner back in February after coming off a similar break. Unexposed on this all-weather surface after just one previous Polytrack run.

The 6-year-old has 2 wins from 5 over hurdles: a 7-length maiden win and a 14-length novice win. The runner-up in both those races were capable types. Good yard/jockey, and he can return improved after seven months off the track. An opening handicap mark of 120 should give him a chance.

Four career runs for the 2yo. He wasn’t disgraced on his handicap debut at the end of last month, beaten 4L, but it was a stronger race than this one. The runner-up won by 4L on Wednesday off a 2 lb higher mark. Not helped by a slow start that day, he didn’t lose any ground up the straight, and it was just that the leaders weren’t slowing down. This longer trip should suit him. He is 4 lb lower now and has a strong jockey booking. He’s making his AW debut and is unexposed on the surface.

The 5yo showed useful hurdle form in his last campaign: 23212. He returned from an eight-month break earlier in the month and won a decent-looking 11-runner Class 2 handicap by a huge 27L, posting a big RPR. He’s taken a hike in the weights, but he’s worth keeping on your side in this handicap until we find out how far his improvement takes him.

The 6yo has four wins from four over hurdles, with two Grade 1 wins already to his name. He should be fine on his return from a break for this Grade 1 contest, with the Skelton yard in great shape. 'C Hill' is an 8yo now and had two falls and a wide-margin defeat in the spring. The Mullins runner hasn’t beaten much so far in his career and still has to prove himself.

The 4yo is useful on the flat and has a good 92 rating. Just four starts over hurdles, form 2144. His last hurdle run was back in March at the Festival, a 22-runner Grade 3 juvenile hurdle, and he was involved in a three-way photo for the runner-up spot. The winner has gone on to good things since. A flat run three weeks ago, after a six-month break, should have him sharper now. Every chance in this handicap off his current rating, and he looks underestimated.

The 6yo was progressive over hurdles early last year. He went chasing on his return last winter, form 1132. He was 2nd of 12 in a useful-looking Irish handicap chase when last seen. The smart winner that day was raised 13 lb in the weights. He’s returning from a seven-month break, and his current handicap mark of 126 looks attractive. He’s young enough to progress again over fences. One or two question marks remain against some of these rivals.