Edinburgh Gin Chase (Limited Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 7m 16.43s

Corach Rambler^t¹⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 159

10/3

Notched second successive win in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival in March before a fine performance to land the Grand National at Aintree (34.3f, good) the following month. Clearly still improving and very much the one to beat, albeit he looked in need of his reappearance run last season.

Form: U1/5411-

Highland Hunter^t1⁶³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 145| BF| C| D

5/1

Thorough stayer who landed the London National at Sandown prior to finishing second in the Welsh National at Chepstow for Paul Nicholls during a light 2021/22 campaign. Resumes on a handy mark for new yard, but 21-month absence is naturally a concern. Tongue strap applied.

Form: 125124/

Elvis Mail^t²¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 143| CD

11/4

Useful hurdler/chaser who got back on track when landing a C&D handicap (soft) on final run of last season. Good record when fresh, but resumes on a 5 lb higher mark in a tougher race and his jumping isn't always on-point.

Form: 1633U1-

Empire Steel¹⁸⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 143| C

9/4

Back to form when landing a 4-runner listed chase here (23.4f, good to soft) in March, enhancing his fine record at Kelso in the process (form figures at this course read 1121). Didn't have the stamina for the Scottish National on final start of last season, but this is a more suitable scenario.

Form: 12/7018-

Rapper^p²²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁷⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 140| D

10/1

Raised his game in first-time cheekpieces when landing a 3¼m Cheltenham handicap on New Year's Day. Hard to knock his fifth-place finish at Sandown next time and there were excuses when pulled up back at Cheltenham in March (later found to have bled). Visored that day but cheekpieces now refitted.

Form: 0/9315P-

Burrows Diamond²²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 134

18/1

Resumed winning ways when taking a 7-runner handicap over 24.2f at Wetherby (soft) last December. Found just one too good on 2 of his 3 subsequent starts, but faces an uphill task from 5 lb out of the weights here.

Form: 5/61282-

Forecasts

Empire Steel (9/4), Elvis Mail (11/4), Corach Rambler (10/3), Highland Hunter (5/1), Rapper (10/1), Burrows Diamond (18/1)

EMPIRE STEEL evidently has something of a penchant for Kelso, making it 3-4 here when taking notable scalps in a listed race in March. Everything looks in place for a big run from Sandy Thompson's charge and he is taken to get the better of another high-profile rival in Corach Rambler. The latter was a brilliant winner of the Grand National and may well have more to offer this season, but this could be the day to take him on (needed his reappearance run last term). Rapper is best of the rest.