sixthformer

28-1 is a big price about Es Perfecto. Alan King-trained 10yo has won 2 of his chase starts over 2m4f on good-soft each time. He may have needed the run on his seasonal reappearance in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Allotted 10st 7lb here. Trainer is going well. Tom Bellamy (SR 23%) rides. Strong company in this Class 1 Premier Handicap Chase, but the conditions suit.

Prince Zaltar runs off a mark of 120, while Tristan Durrell (SR 28%) takes off a further 3 lbs. Three good starts over hurdles since joining Dan Skelton's yard include a win and a second to a useful rival (who has won since) last time. He scored over 3 miles over fences last season for Philip Rothwell. Handicap-wise, he has to be respected from this bottom weight. Good to soft going is suitable.

Slightly intriguing. Joker De Mai won chases in France for his former yard and ran out an easy winner of a hunter chase at Leicester in March for the former yard of Harry Derham. He ran well in decent handicap hurdles for that stable, up to a reasonable level of form. He looks pitched pretty highly on this first start for the new yard of Clive Boultbee-Brooks but is respected. Low in the weights. By Balko, still only six years old.

This is feasibly a more open race than it might look at first. Rajsalad returns after almost a year’s absence. He is a nine-year-old who has obviously had some problems in recent years. He was sent off at 11-1 on his first start back last year and got involved before falling when weakening two out. He was due to run earlier this week but was a non-runner. Six-lengths winner of his final maiden hurdle run in 2022. Charlie O'Dwyer claims 5 lb from the handicap mark, which drops five pounds. It would be a surprise winner, but the Conor O'Dwyer yard is respected.

Nine years old now. Hurdle wins in the past (2022) off ORs of 130 and 134. Runs off OR 116 today, five pounds lower than for the last outing in a Class 2 at Cheltenham when he didn't jump well. Winner on the Flat at a lower grade on the penultimate start. Faces younger, more progressive sorts but is low in the handicap, and Brian Ellison (SR 21%) yard is going well.

Lagoon Nebula is chanced at 16-1. Winner of a Grade 3 mares' handicap hurdle here in April (2m 1f, GS), and that was her last outing over hurdles. Up 7 lbs but still a low weight of 10-02. Sam Twiston-Davies booked. First-time hood. Respected entry for Irish trainer Andrew Kinirons.