DragonBet John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Absent since February but won over C&D (good to soft) when fresh just under a year ago and his clear second at Market Rasen (2m5f, good to soft) in January was also a very good effort; must be considered.

Won Grand Annual Chase at 2024 Cheltenham Festival (2m, soft) and an honourable second in this year's edition of that race; also suited by this C&D but makes seasonal debut from career-high mark and Harry Skelton evidently prefers Jet Plane today.

Keen-goer who can be hard to catch when he blasts off in front and gets into a good rhythm, as evidenced by last season's wins at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) and over C&D (good); begins new campaign on a tough mark, though, and never really threatened when ridden patiently on his reappearance outing in this race a year ago.

Cheltenham regular who looked as good as ever when winning Paddy Power Gold Cup there (2m4f, good) last November; only 1lb higher today but seemed in need of the run when reappearing in this event last season and perhaps this race will again tee him up for Cheltenham next month.

In career-best form in April, winning at Ayr (2m4f, good to soft) and Cheltenham (2m4f, good; Grade 2 handicap); overlooked by Harry Skelton today and probably doesn't have much margin for error off current mark but ran well in Summer Plate at Market Rasen (2m5f, good) in July on latest outing; considered each-way.