Attwood Memorial Trophy Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 124

Dual hurdles winner who has raised his game since tackling the larger obstacles, making it third time lucky in this sphere at Leicester during the Christmas period before following up in good style at Hereford (21f, soft). 10 lb rise for latest win looks manageable and another bold show anticipated.

Form: 11-F511

Joker De Mai³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: R Patrick| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 123| D

6/1

Fairly useful performer who was twice a winner over fences in France in 2023. Also successful twice on these shores, latterly landing a Leicester hunter last March, and this step back up in trip looks a good move judged on his encouraging fourth in a 6-runner handicap chase at Newbury last time.

Form: 31F-P64

Charles Ritz⁵²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 122| D

7/2

Fairly useful winning hurdler/chaser who notched second success in this sphere when coming from off the pace to land a 7-runner Southwell handicap chase (20.4f, good to soft) back from a 13-month absence in December. Things rather went his way on that occasion, though, and this is tougher up 4 lb.

Form: 636/P2-1

Palamon¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton| OR: 122

50/1

Fairly useful hurdler and positive start over fences when runner-up at Wexford last summer. Safely held on final run for Paul Nolan in October and recent debut for this yard at Haydock (first run following a wind op) wasn't up to much but still has time on his side.

Form: 202F6-9

Tax For Max³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Slevin| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 121

20/1

Useful hurdler/chaser for Willie Mullins and stepped up on low-key stable debut when third in a Newton Abbot handicap hurdle in October. However, it's fair to say he has failed to build on that since, including on first chase start for this yard following a wind op at Windsor on New Year's Day.

Form: 6/03385

Toothless^p,t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 120| D

3/1

Understandably looked in need of the run back from a lengthy absence at Wincanton in December, and subsequently took a step firmly back in right direction when accounting for 6 rivals at Windsor (20.2f, good) early last month. 5 lb rise fair enough and he's a must for the shortlist.

Form: 222/1-51

Pepe Le Moko^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 112| D

9/2

Well treated on peak form and produced best effort for a while when going close in a soft-ground C&D handicap on penultimate start. However, he was beaten 20 lengths into third behind Rodney at Hereford next time and it's unlikely that a 10 lb pull will be sufficient to elicit a role reversal.

Form: 63-F423

Non-Runners

Regal Renaissance⁴⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: H D Daly J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Forecasts

Rodney (5/2), Toothless (3/1), Charles Ritz (7/2), Pepe Le Moko (9/2), Joker De Mai (6/1), Regal Renaissance (13/2), Tax For Max (20/1), Palamon (50/1)

Though cases can be realistically made for several of these, RODNEY is firmly on the up and is taken to complete the hat-trick following commanding victories at Leicester and Hereford. Regal Renaissance may well have won had she stayed on all fours here in December and is feared most ahead of Toothless, who regained the winning thread at Windsor on New Year's Day. Joker de Mai is also worth a second look.