squareintheair.com Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Better than ever last season, winning the Scottish Champion Chase (handicap) at Musselburgh. Kept top company on his next 3 starts and was only just denied in the Celebration Chase at Sandown on his final start. Good record fresh and is bound to go well.

Bidding for a hat-trick of wins in this race having made a winning return for the last 2 seasons. This has likely been the target once again and he's 1 lb lower than for his last win at Ascot in November.

Almost 2 years since his last win but he hasn't had that much racing in that time and he's now 3 lb below his winning chase mark. Arrives fit from the Flat (ran very well) so not taken lightly back down in trip.

Successful at Wetherby last winter during a consistent spell but he was over 13 lengths behind Calico in this last year and is only 1 lb lower now.

Free-going sort who had a mixed campaign over fences last season, though one of his wins was at Chepstow on his return. Not seen since producing an appalling round of jumping at Ayr in April.

Has tended to finish weakly over fences but made the most of a good opportunity in first-time headgear in maiden at Wexford in July. Useful form when third at Listowel since but this stiff finish is unlikely to suit.

Can boast a pretty good strike rate throughout his career and enhanced it further when beating 3 rivals at Wetherby 9 days ago. Likely to find a 7-lb penalty in much better race too much for him, though.

Showed a likeable attitude when making it 3 wins in small-field chases this season at Kelso last month. Ridden too forcefully in his bid to exploit a lower hurdles mark next time but likely to find this too competitive from 5 lb out of the handicap.