Great to see both Simonsig (25s from 33s King George) and Bobs Worth (14s from 20s Hennessy at BetVictor) back to something like their best at Aintree on Saturday and the latter will receive 21lbs from Coneygree at Newbury later in the month and must go well in his bid for a second win in the Hennessy.
A good card at Carlisle this afternoon with a fascinating and valuable Novices' Chase over 2m 4f; Kingscourt Native fell on both starts in point-to-points but was a decent novice hurdler for the Tizzard's and is a big danger as is Silso who represents the champion trainer Paul Nicholls.
Seeyouatmidnight is another exciting recruit but the likely outside of the big four is Maximiser (1.45) and the grey gets the vote for the yard Simon West. Based in Middleham Maximiser is the apple of his trainers' eye and he has won both starts over hurdles by an aggregate of 47 lengths. An exciting grey the selection will get further in time and is likely to be overlooked in the market although he is every bit as exciting a recruit to chasing as the others.
Grey Storm (2.15) cost connections £100,000 at the sales back in May after his win in an Irish point-to-point back in the spring. Another grey it will be disappointing if he can't make a winning start for Rose Dobbin whose stable had a welcome winner at Kelso on Saturday.
The 3m Graduation Chase has attracted a small but select field and Masters Hill is another grey who could light up the track but there can be no excuses for Blakemount (2.50) who receives weight from his four rivals and will have blown away any cobwebs after a 12-month lay-off at Kelso last month.
Deputy Dan has always been a personal favourite but an extended 3m on soft ground and a stiff track might be less than ideal; the handicapper suggests Blakemount has it all to do but I'm not so sure.
The mare Retrieve The Stick (3.25) bumped into one when no match for Jack Steel at Ayr on good ground but she jumped well and cam go one better back on her favoured soft ground for Malcolm Jefferson. Silverton can go well fresh and a market move for Fourth Act would be worth bearing in mind but the selection is unexposed over the larger obstacles and could be ahead of the handicapper.
At Southwell Still Believing can race off a mark 10lbs lower over fences than timber having scored over the smaller obstacles at Ludlow last month for the in-form Even Williams. She has bits of form over fences that suggest she could be well treated despite top-weight.
In the feature Benefit Cut (1.30) has only won going right-handed but he has suggested that he is every bit as good going anti-clockwise and looked ready for a step back up in trip when runner up at Worcester after a break back in September.
Brave Richard (2.35) won three of four Bumpers including at Southwell back in June but he is unproven on soft ground; he looked a decent prospect and good to soft ground should hold no terrors with Richard Johnson taking over for his hurdles debut.
As a son of Presenting Braavos (3.10) is another who might not be seen to his best effect when the mud is flying but he created a very favourable impression when scoring at Market Rasen in a decent Bumper last time.
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Kim Bailey's Abbreviate made a satisfactory hurdles debut when runner up at Warwick although his hurdling needs to improve.
