Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 42.3s

Gaillard Du Mesnil²²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156| D

6/4

Very smart chaser who landed the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival before signing off with a fine third in Grand National at Aintree. Effective at shorter trips too under testing conditions so he's the one to beat on his seasonal return.

Form: 3/21313-

Scipion¹⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 129

100/1

Built on earlier chasing promise when winning handicap at Lingfield in February and ran at least as well when runner-up at Kempton in April. Disappointing in the summer though, offering little on first outing for new connections at Perth in June. This is a very tough ask.

Form: 41P2-54

Grey Dawning¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137

2/1

Winner of 3 of his 4 completed starts over hurdles last term, including a Grade 2 at Warwick, and he made a promising chase debut when third of five in novice at Exeter (24.2f, soft) 15 days ago. Can build on it now.

Form: 2111F-3

Hardy Bloke¹⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 122| BF

50/1

A fairly useful hurdler/chaser who was running well in second when unseated rider last in handicap chase at Wexford (25.2f, good to soft) 6 months on his final run for Emmet Mullins. Faces a tall order on his yard bow/return.

Form: 3416-4U

Apple Away²²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 141

2/1

Signed off last season's progressive hurdles campaign with a gutsy front-running display in a Grade 1 3m novice at Aintree Grand National meeting. This former Irish point winner could take high rank among the staying novice chasers this season.

Form: 632111-

Forecasts

Gaillard Du Mesnil (6/4), Grey Dawning (2/1), Apple Away (2/1), Hardy Bloke (50/1), Scipion (100/1)

GAILLARD DU MESNIL is ideally suited by longer distances but last year's Grand National third is the clear form pick and still looks the way to go under these testing conditions. Apple Away rates a most interesting fencing newcomer and can chase home Willie Mullins' very smart chaser ahead of Grey Dawning.