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It didn't help that Tequila Blaze finished lame after pulling up at Wetherby last time but she had never gone a yard on what was tacky ground. She had shown her true colours on a  very wet surface at Lingfield the time before, running very well for second in a strong race and it will…

Minella Tara was probably going to finish second at Southwell last time but fell at the final fence. He wouldn't have troubled the runaway winner, however, and the biggest factor for him today will be the going as he wants better ground. That will make it difficult to fancy his chance.

Del La Mar Rocket is a nice horse and I think he should handle the ground. I'm hoping for an improvement on his first race and while I believe the front two in the betting are potentially useful, he should be there or thereabouts.

Hollie Doyle comes in to try to galvanise Tanqeeb. He got his head in front with a narrow win at Bath and went up 7lb. Three defeats since have prompted a combined 1lb drop. Presumably another 18 might get him back to the Bath mark and that's why we need someone like Hollie for a…

Lucky's Dream has been running very well on the all-weather and his rating is up to 87. He's stepping up a fair way in trip but a slow pace which is always possible in these types of race might be to his advantage. The Henderson mare is the obvious one we have to beat.

This is a first run in a handicap for Timeless Beauty who is in good form and it will be interesting to see how she goes.I think she may be better than her mark of 99 suggests.

Jersey Wonder ran perfectly well on his hurdles debut when fourth at Taunton. I've been waiting for better ground and as he was a smart handicapper on all-weather when with Jamie Osborne running in one of these races was too good an opportunity to miss. He should have a great each-way chance today.

Robelli didn't run too badly on his sole bumper at Warwick just over a year ago, showing a degree of promise. He'll probably improve for the outing but as a son of Getaway should have more to come further down the road.

The ratings seem to say otherwise but the front two in the betting could be quite decent. I always liked Honor Grey and thought he had plenty of ability but he has been disappointing. I wouldn't be surprised if he ran a big race today though.

Imperial Alcazar should go well but we were wondering after his run last time at Haydock whether he truly gets three miles. He will tell us one way or another today as it's another competitive race and he has a big weight. If he stays he should make the frame.

Le Breuil is in good order after a wind-op which should make a major difference to his performance today compared with Aintree's Becher Chase when he faded from the home turn after looking the likely winner. Track and trip should be ideal so he has to have a major chance. 

Keeper Hill has been running well in graded races over fences so far this season. He is back to hurdles today and hopefully will run a good race.

Mayson Mount doesn't have a great draw but he usually starts slowly so it shouldn't make much difference as Josie can slide him across and ride him for luck. Not that we've been having too much of that commodity lately - look at Masked Identity's run the other day! It will be nice to see…

Fawsley Spirit should get his head in front this time. I know he's been put up markedly in the weights - for falling at the last at Ascot! - but with him it's more a mental thing than weights and measures. He's in a good place mentally so today should be his day.

Akarita Lights ran better than his finishing position suggests on his comeback after a year's absence at Huntingdon last month. He has come down to what appears a fair mark and if he goes in the ground - he ran well in a bumper for Alan King in heavy early in his career - he…

We were very hopeful of Art Approval's chance before his market rival came out and it now looks a fairly straight-forward task. It didn't work out last time at Cheltenham but that was a tough handicap hurdle.

The Resdev Way is the outsider of this field but re-united with Paula Muir, who has won on him three times for previous connections, he could go close. He acts well on the track and happily even though we had four inches of snow this morning and the temperature was minus 6C, he should make…

The step back up in distance will play to Talktomenow's strengths today after he found the shorter trip around Catterick last time inadequate. He continues in good form and I'm expecting another solid run.

Cool To Be A Cat didn't run up to expectations at Kempton last night in a deeper race than this. He won well at Wolverhampton the time before and we're hopeful he'll last out the longer trip.