Edwinp

Shadowfax of Rohan has improved since wind surgery and joining Patrick Neville. He has won one and finished 2nd in another of two chases at his local track, Catterick. If he takes to Southwell, he could get another win, receiving weight from both Known Warrior and Classical Sting.

Lady Caro's only win came a year ago at Plumpton, but she has looked competitive since moving up to staying distances, running over course and distance in her latest two races, finishing 4th and 2nd last time. Ten-pound claimer Cameron Johnstone-Baker rode her last time and may have kicked on too early, taking it up three out; she was headed by the final flight but stayed on well for second, well ahead of the rest of the field. He may leave his challenge later this time, and she should win if he does.

Man Oh Man has run four times since arriving from Ireland for trainer D. P. Summersby and has finished 3rd on both his runs at Taunton over two miles three furlongs, while finishing unplaced over two miles elsewhere. He drops in distance to two miles at Taunton and wears first-time cheekpieces. He should go close if it is Taunton he prefers to the extra distance.

Prairie Queen goes for her first chase, but if she takes to it she could go close off her lowly mark of 74. That is the same mark she ran with last time over hurdles when setting a strong pace. She was only headed late on the run-in after a mistake at the last flight, dropping to third, beaten only one and a half lengths.

Bravethewaves reverts back to hurdles, having won by twenty lengths in a handicap chase at Doncaster last time. Although he has not run over hurdles since December 2024 and he ran poorly in his last three hurdle races ??" beaten around 40 lengths or more in all of them ??" his mark has fallen from 89 to 78. He has won four chases since then, including here over two and a half miles, and he could go close off 85.

Crest of Arms returns to a right-handed track after running in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham last time. However, first time out he hung badly left throughout at Wincanton when front-running in a race won by his more fancied stablemate ridden by Rex Dingle. Rex Dingle takes the ride this time and he wears a first-time tongue tie.