Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 5m 32.28s

Adrien Du Pont^t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147| C

8/1

May well have needed the race when pulled up over 3m in a handicap last time (first run back from wind surgery). Course winner over hurdles but does have a fair task at the weights and needs to bounce back from his last poor effort.

Form: 47130-P

Double Shuffle⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 154

11/1

Smart handicap chaser but he's not won for nearly three years despite on occasions flashing some placed form in higher grades. May well have needed the run last time here over 3m; without his usual hood here, others appeal more.

Form: 252P0-8

Riders Onthe Storm⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 153

9/4

Produced a very taking performance on his GB/stable debut at Aintree winning a handicap off a mark of 140. Ought to have run at Cheltenham last week in a top-class handicap (taken out in error); comes here instead, leading player in compensation bid.

Form: 431FP-1

Paloma Blue^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 147

11/4

Useful hurdler who has made the transition to fences although he has been found out in both spheres at Grade 1 level. Returned after a break last time at Gowran Park, ran well against a higher-rated rival off level weights; of interest here.

Form: 0/416-62

On The Blind Side^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147| D

15/8

Has some smart chasing form to his name; acquitted himself well over 3m here in a big-field handicap on return (given a tough task). Disappointed in the Ladbrokes Trophy last time (pulled up), may well have come too soon, revival needed.

Form: 41P2-4P

Forecasts

On The Blind Side (15/8), Riders Onthe Storm (9/4), Paloma Blue (11/4), Adrien Du Pont (8/1), Double Shuffle (11/1)

All of these can be given some sort of chance but the it’s RIDERS ONTHE STORM who can gain a well deserved victory having been taken out of last weekend’s Caspian Caviar by mistake. His Aintree victory was very impressive and a repeat of that would be good enough here with conditions looking to suit. On The Blind Side was given a baptism of fire over fences last year and caught the eye when given a good sight of his fences around her on his comeback run. His flop in the Ladbrokes Trophy leaves a stain on his CV and he needs to bounce back. Paloma Blue has shown some smart fencing form only being beaten by a better-rated rival last time at level weights; this trip will test him though.