The obvious starting point is KITTYS LIGHT, tipped to win both The Eider Chase in February and the Scottish National last week by SP2A and a fantastic horse. It would be foolish not to invest a "win saver" bet on him (I always want the call a horse called Kittys "her) but this brave Gelding has an excellent chance of following up as he is unpenalised for the win last week. The only niggle for me is not actually the recovery time or the opposition, it's whether this trip is far enough. If I were taking it on I'd seek a very sharp pace and to try to run the legs off KL early especially if the horse is stiffened up at all from the exertions of last week including the travelling in a horsebox.

 

The likes of Frodon will ensure a proper pace and although i've never seen that wonderful horse as suited to this trip his trainer the Champion elect Paul Nicholls seems to but i do wonder if frodon may set the race up for Enrillo. Enrillo has been out of form since finishing first in this race in 2021 before being demoted to third and PFN is very bullish about it's chances but the horse has a fair bit to find on even the most positive of recent runs. Broken Halo also runs for the stable and has won 2 x Military Races over the fences at 3 miles, this is a step up in Class and Distance BUT this is a unique jumping test and Course form cannot be ignored. I think he'll run very well for a long way.

 

The Goffer comes over from Ireland but doesn't appeal as a likely springer and in a field that probably lacks the quality of previous years, the likes of the very progressive and in form Coolvalla and Certianly Red have good chances on improving on already stellar seasons although an increased mark and an increase in trip respectively just put me off. Annsam is fairly lightly raced and upped in trip for Evan Williams and I think worth a close look and certainly the Trainer will open up many new options for 2023/2024 if the horse can proven stamina at this trip. 

 

MORODER and MUSICAL SLAVE are in the Tracker and I like both. MORODER has been lightly raced this year but was an impressive winner last time out, the underfoot conditions will be ideal and and the mark is reasonable enough. MUSICAL SLAVE is a bit of a forgotten horse but was runner up in this race last year off a mark of 130, although well beaten and may have been campaigned specifically for this and i dont think there is an unexposed one like last year in this field. It won last timeout and looks primed for the race off a mark of 134.

 

The other one it's hard to ignore in the conditions is REVELS HILL another who has had a light season with just the 4 runs and a good Course sighter in December off a mark of 138 suggests this is very much a plan and that conditions have definitely come right for this one too.

 

If we include the WIN SAVER on Kittys Light my suggested bets are-: