Punchestown Festival winner in 2016 for Nicky Henderson from 10lb higher and has since won a chase for this yard. Lost his way a bit on his last two starts in the summer, but not ruled out at this level.
Stays well and is at home on good ground. Is on the same mark here as when scoring over hurdles at Catterick in February (under this jockey) and although he tipped up last time he is entitled to plenty of respect if going clear today.
Stays much further than this and has mainly been tried over marathon trips in recent times. Not sure he will have the pace over this distance, although he is on a dangerous-looking mark and support for him would be interesting.
Has four course wins to his name, three of them this year, though all have been over shorter trips. Was unable to win a point-to-point and from 9lb higher than his latest success and those stamina doubts, others are preferred this time.
Scored over C&D (good) last year from an 8lb lower mark and ran well from this mark at Perth in May, so if he is straighter for his reappearance back there over 3m in September then he has to enter calculations.
Ran up a hat-trick in Irish point-to-point this time last year and added a hunter chase win to that (2m5f, good) at Tramore in April. First start since the spring/stable debut here, but on a fair mark and a market check is suggested.
Non-Runners
1
Chidswell197
Weight: 11-12| Age: 8
T: N G Richards J: Craig Nichol
NR
Forecasts
Dimple (6/4), Cooking Fat (2/1), Chidswell (9/4), Federici (9/2), Sudski Star (9/1), Cup Final (14/1), Amilliontimes (20/1)
It would be no surprise to see Iain Jardine get some improvement out of Dimple in this and if so, then he will probably have a say in receipt of weight from all comers. However, CHIDSWELL alsAmilliontimes o makes appeal back over this trip and with his good record when fresh, so he is preferred. Cooking Fat is likely to be thereabouts, while Cup Final, Federici and Amilliontimes are others to consider.