Holker Hall & Gardens Handicap Chase

Winless in his last five and ranked 9th of 10 on our figures, his recent handicap form has been modest — a well-beaten effort at Downpatrick last time where he was pressed too hard too soon. Tongue-tie and cheekpieces on for the first time; his hunter-chase figures will not translate directly to this level.

Off the track for 143 days after being pulled up at Doncaster; first-time cheekpieces as he returns to competition. His two recent wins came over different codes and the trip and going suit, but the current chase mark asks more after a lengthy absence and the form requires updating.

Two wins on the bounce and clearly in fine form — the latest a narrow success here under a positive front-running ride at a 7lb lower mark. Raised again in the weights but the course, trip and good ground all suit; tongue-tie on first time. Looks the one to beat.

Course form from 12 months ago is genuinely appealing — he landed this race last year — and today's trip and going suit; blinkers and tongue-tie applied first time in an attempt to reverse a run of poor recent efforts. His most recent start here was well below that earlier level.

Third at this trip and going when things went right in his last five starts, but also pulled up on three occasions; he has a history of not applying himself fully and that unreliability makes him difficult to trust. Winless in his last five and ranked mid-field on our figures.