Lee Strand Novice Steeplechase

A couple of placed efforts in his last five starts show he stays competitive, and today's trip is already firmly in his form book. He also tops our figures at 139, though a 128-day absence following a below-par run last time out is the obvious concern.

A pair of runner-up efforts underline his ability, even with the placings drifting more recently, and today's trip holds no fears. Fresh after a 99-day break, he rates second on our figures at 135 and remains open to more on this profile.

A swift reappearance within ten days and proven form over today's trip give him claims, and he sits third in our figures at 132, a shade above his current mark. The concern is a sequence yet to feature a top-three finish.

Pulled up last time having also unseated earlier in this sequence, and the finishing positions elsewhere read no better than midfield. A quick reappearance after just seven days at least points to fitness, with today's trip already covered, but the sequence overall offers little encouragement.

Runner-up last time out, a big improvement on the modest efforts before it, and he arrives with today's trip already in the book. Fourth in our figures at 131, the 53-day break since is the main query for this leading fancy.