ACHILLE 2
ACH attack. Finished well when sixth in the Midlands National and good effort in the Becher last time when rusty. Looks on a winnable mark and Venetia Williams is having a good season. Chance if the ground eases.
SECRET REPRIEVE 4
TOP Secret. Hasn’t run since winning this last season in good style. Has a cracking weight and we know trip and track are ideal. It’s decades since a horse won this after such a long break but he ticks all the boxes if fit enough.
DISCORDANTLY 2
SLIPPED Disc. Sixth in the Ultima at the Festival but has been below par since with a poor effort in the Irish National and a modest sixth at Navan on comeback. Best form has come over shorter.
DEISE ABA 4
ABA in tune. Chinned on the line by Highland Hunter in the London National last time after a good comeback over hurdles. Losing a shoe didn’t help and he’s got winning form here, which can’t hurt. One of many each-way chances.
HOLD THAT TAUGHT 3
HOLD on. Improving stayer who had plenty in hand when winning at Carlisle last time. Best has come on soft ground and he has a lot more to offer. He’s out of the weights today but has been well backed for in-form Venetia Williams.
COLORADO DOC 1
DOC leave. Fair second in the trial for this earlier in December after a decent effort at Newbury. Didn’t stay the last time he tried a marathon like this, which is a worry.
IWILLDOIT 4
WILL has a way. Big career-best when winning the trial for this race here earlier this month when jumping really well. Went from the front and hammered his rivals so the longer trip isn’t an issue and he’s a leading contender.
EVA’S OSKAR 2
NOT for Eva. Solid form in small fields around three miles including when second at Cheltenham last time. Shapes like a real stayer but is up the weights so needs a fair bit of improvement.
CAPTAIN DRAKE 1
CAP doesn’t fit. Was fourth in this last year but hasn’t fired since including when well beaten at Haydock last time. Trip and track suit so should do better but playing for a place at very best.
HILL SIXTEEN 3
HILL on high. Beaten on the nod in the Becher Chase over the National fences at Aintree when he loved the testing ground. Stays well and has improved since joining the canny Sandy Thomson.
POTTERS CORNER 3
COR blimey. Last win was this race in 2019 and ran his best race since when beaten in a photo over the Cheltenham cross-country course earlier this month. Every chance of hitting the frame.
Templegate tip
HIGHLAND HUNTER can scale the Coral Welsh National heights (2.50 Chepstow, nap).
Paul Nicholls’ stayer has a bright future in marathons as he showed with a last-gasp London National win at Sandown last time. He needed every inch of the three and a half miles there so will relish this test.
Deise Aba was a nose behind despite losing a shoe and is right in the mix again at fair odds.
Secret Reprieve’s last run was when winning this 12 months ago and he’s been well backed. It will be some feat for Evan Williams to get him fit enough but his form is rock-solid.
Elegant Escape has been laid out for this and has run well in the race before so has to be shortlisted.
The Big Dog has been a major gamble and canny Irish trainer Peter Fahey will have him trained to the minute. Iwilldoit looks overpriced after an easy win in the trial for this contest.
It should be a cracker with Native River and Potters Corner also in the each-way picture.
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