Guinness At The Hawk Ponteland Handicap Chase (Go North One Man Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Winning seasonal reappearance at Hexham (2m, good to soft; from 9lb lower) in November, and has presumably been kept away from the worst of the winter conditions since; that wasn't a particularly strong Class 4 contest but this isn't either, and the chances are he has more to offer; key player.

Free-going nature; no win since landing a Class 3 at Newbury (2m, 13-8 joint-favourite) in March 2023; fell at Cheltenham (80-1) on penultimate start and was equally out of his depth in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas; this is more realistic.

Low mileage 6yo; improved form since switched to fences, doing his best work from the back of the last (mistake two out) when chasing home the subsequent Leicester scorer Falco Des Pins at Ludlow (2m, soft; beaten a neck) latest; 3lb rise justifiable; a major threat.

Won a bumper and a maiden hurdle for Olly Murphy through the formative stages of career; poor (0-2) over fences for that trainer, and yet to hint at revival over hurdles since joining new trainer (0-3); mark in freefall; one of the least likely candidates.

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