Pallinc Lincolnshire National Handicap Chase

Improved for the first-time visor and an increased stamina test when bolting up in the 4m Edinburgh National at Musselburgh in February. Placed both completed starts since but pulled up after a bad mistake at Ascot last time and he's 7 lb higher than when finishing fifth in this race last year.

Been a cracking servant over the years and ended a long losing run when landing a veterans' event at Huntingdon on return last season. Followed that with a near-miss in this race 12 months ago and, likely to come on for his reappearance spin behind O'Connell at Carlisle, he's hard to discount.

C&D winner. 22/1, fourth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Newcastle (23.7f, good) 56 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Won twice last term but he was beaten fair and square off a lower mark in this race 12 months ago, and his efforts at Kempton and Ascot this season have lacked spark.

Winning Irish pointer who got off the mark in handicap chase here last December before finishing a creditable fourth in the 2023 renewal of this race. Back on the up with a game success at Carlisle (24.5f, soft) last time (Illico de Cotte around 4½ lengths back in third) and he has to be respected.

Didn't show much over hurdles but has looked a different animal sent chasing with cheekpieces enlisted on last 3 starts, finding just one too good twice before opening his account in an 8-runner handicap here (3m, soft). 7 lb rise fair and this stamina test should be right up his street.

Twice successful over hurdles and, though 0-7 in this sphere, he has gone close on a couple of occasions in handicap chases, including when just held in a 4-runner affair at Wetherby (24.2f, good) last month. Not discounted.

Off the mark over fences at fourth attempt when taking 5-runner handicap here (3m, good) in August of last year. However, he hasn't made much of an impact in a couple of runs at Uttoxeter since returning from a 15-month absence. Blinkers replace cheekpieces.

Runner-up in 21.4f novices' handicap chase on this card last year and placed over hurdles here either side of that. It's been a struggle since but he has fallen a long way in the weights.