JIBBER JABBER

There is a lot of pace on here with Looking For Lynda, Tees Spirit, and Copper Knight all confirmed front-runners so I could see this being set up for a closer like WEN MOON. He put in three good performances over C&D last September/October with form figures reading 221 in big-field handicaps. He has had two comeback runs, is well-drawn in stall 3, carries a low 8st 8lb weight, and this could be set up nicely for him. I have backed him for 7 places with Skybet. At least 3 bookmaking firms are offering 6 places while most are only paing the first 5 home in this 18-runner race.

LIGHTENING COMPANY could prove best-suited by the recent rain at the track and the change in Going to Good. The 6 year old gelding's mark has kindly been left unchanged after he finished a running-on 2 lengths 2nd of 9 over 1m2f at Pontefract 23-days ago. The form of the race has been well-boosted with the 3rd & 4th placed horses, who he beat by 4L & 5.75L respectively, both winning next time out so he could be well-handicapped. His mark of 84 has remained unchanged while he has been getting fitter in two runs this season. He is just 2lb above his last winning mark here so it looks workable. He also steps up to 1m4f for the first-time but he has been shaping like the trip will suit with his trainer saying, "the way he's been racing points towards him being ready for the step up in trip". Each way advised for 4 places at the current 20/1 on offer.

INISHBIGGLE is a 9 year old gelding who won twice over this distance over today's hurdles back in 2022 before being sent chasing. He won over hurdles off a 6lb higher mark than today, in a higher Grade than this, back in February 2022. He hasn't proved nearly as good in 9 runs over fences but he has steadily dropped 16lb down the weights to 5lb below his last winning mark and with Sean Bowen an eye-catching first-time booking he could go well returned to the smaller obstacles. Sean has an excellent 29% strike rate when riding for trainer Gary Hamer over the past 5 years (22-77). My only concern really is whether he'll be ready to fire after a 145-day break but he has won after a 73-day break and the jockey booking does suggest he could go ready to run well.

GLOBAL SKIES finished 1.5 lengths behind Bellarchi (just won the higher Class 2.05 race at Ascot today) at Beverley over an unsuitably short 7.5f 16 days ago. The 3 year old gelding caught the eye running-on well late on after missing the break and being dropped in in last from a wdie draw in stall 6 of 7. It was a nice performance on the back of a 180-day break and he is entitled to strip fitter here. He also has the assistance of the excellent Jack Gilligan in the saddle (Season: 13-73, 187% SR). Could go close at a generous looking 10/1.

MAN OF A'AN comes in to this based on most of last year's form where he finished 2nd once and 3rd twice running to RPR's between 71-75. Dropped 3lb from his initial handicap mark to a mark of 72, back on turf, well-drawn in stall 2, woth Danny Tudhope taking over in the saddle for the first-time, and the Liam Bailey yard in hot form (Last 14 days: 3-10, 30%), the selection could easily outrun his 20/1 odds with a pipe-opener under his belt on the All-Weather 5 weeks ago.

HEAD ON has dropped to 5lb below his last winning mark with the win coming in a higher Class than this. The 8 year old gelding was still in there pitching 3-out last time, despite giving weight away all round, when he clipped heels with one in front of him stopping his momentum and losing all chance. His jockey sensibly allowed him to coast home which is why he was beaten 27 lengths back in 5th. He should be fully-fit on his fifth start of the season and the application of first-time blinkers are a possible source of improvement. Trip and ground are fine and he is suited by left-handed courses. Could go close at a price IMO.

WHISTLEINTHEDARK has dropped 6lb down the weights back to his last winning mark. He will also be approaching peak fitness on his fifth start back and the Laura Morgan yard is in top form (Last 14 days: 2-5, 40%). He hasn't done too much in those four starts other than run to a career best RPR of 146 when 4th of 11 at Doncaster 3 starts back in December. I like the first-time booking of the excellent Danny McMenamin (Last 5 years: 194-1471, 13% SR) who is having a rare ride for the yard (just his fourth in the past 5 years). The main concern is the opposition but also whether he will stay the 4-mile trip at the first attempt. The honest answer is, "I don't know" but this is quite nornal when backing a National horse as these "marathon" distances are very rarely run. I can tell you he stays 3-mile fine and can be seen running-on through the line over that trip. All things considered, I think you could back much 100/1 shots than this with plenty of tick marks in his favour (weight. trainer form, jockey booking, Going, track form, fitness).

MAX VEGA finished 3rd in this last year and won it the year before so looks over-priced at 25/1. His record over C&D reads 21713 and, other than his age running against younger legs, I can't see why he should be nearly as big as 25/1 sent off last year at 4/1 & 9/2 the year before. He was beat on Soft last year while the official Good to Soft here with drying conditions at the track looks ideal. Al Qareem may need the run so my concerns are the two at the head of the market. They are Arrest (13/8) & Hamish (7/2) and they are two very good horses. However, Max Vega has a fitness advantage on them having been running on the All-Weather all Winter while they both return from 5-7 month breaks. The selection also ran to near his very best two starts back in February winning a Class 2 handicap at Wolverhampton while running to a RPR of 114. Could go well.

IMPERIAL JADE has been running in Novice company the last twice and may go better now back in a handicap off a workable looking mark of 96. The selection should be approaching peak fitness on her fifth start since December while, having watched a couple of her races back, I think this 2m2.5f on the forecast Good Going should be ideal for her. She looks the obvious over-priced each way one in the race.

MOTASALEETA runs here for the in form Nikki Evans yard (Last 14 days: 1-2, 50%) who had a 14/1 winner from her last two runners. The selection is better on turf on the All-Weather but hasn't been very good on either having done very little recently and having dropped 13lb down the weights since last June. However, he returns to Bath where he ran one of his better races to finish a running-on 3.25 lengths 3rd of 9 on tomorrow's forecast Good ground off an 11lb higher mark than he runs off here. It could be significant that he is back on better ground after running his last two starts on the All-Weather and the one before that on unsuitable Heavy Going. He has dropped 8lb for those three runs. This is an apprentice handicap and he has a very good booking in the form of Connor Planas. He also steps up 3 furlong further than he has ever run before and it may help as he has 1m4f winning form in his pedigree.

TOP BUTTON's best run to date came over this 6f trip when the 6 year old gelding finished 1.5 lengths 4th off 12 running to a RPR of 70 possibly helped by the application of a first-time tongue-tie. He has been contested over a mile in his last four starts and having moved to a new yard the drop back to 6f also looks a good move. He has dropped 9lb down the weights since that Kempton run so looks weighted to go close. I've backed him each way for 4 places with Skybet.

BOPEDRO has had two prep runs on the All-Weather so should have a fitness advantage over his 4 main rivals at the head of the market who are all coming off their Winter breaks. He won the race last year fairly comfortably by only half a length from the well-fancied Favourite in the end but the first two pulled 5 lengths clear of the 3rd. The selection has a good record at Newmarket winning on the July course here too before finishing a close-up 1 length 3rd of 34 in the £190,000 Cambridgeshire last September. I have backed him at 9/1 for 6 places with Skybet while he is still available at 10/1 with a couple of firms and generally available at 9/1 with 5 places on offer.