Won a Class 3 chase over 2m7f at Worcester in June on good ground, giving him form close to today's requirements. His mark of 124 is 5lb above that winning rating, but July's four-length second over 3m at Uttoxeter shows he can be competitive from it. He returns after 73 days away, having unseated his rider at Stratford on August 20, an interruption to that encouraging chase form. Two hurdle wins here give him a positive course association, although they came over shorter distances.

His second over 3m at Uttoxeter in October 2025, beaten seven lengths on good ground in Class 3, gives him relevant chase form. Today's mark of 124 is 11lb below his rating for that effort, offering scope if he can recapture that level. The concern is his October 7 chase run at Worcester, where he was pulled up over 2m7f on good ground. He had also been heavily beaten over hurdles at Haydock in April, so the lower mark comes against a worrying recent background.

Finished fifth in a chase over 3m at Uttoxeter on October 16, beaten 18 and three quarter lengths, so substantial improvement is required. His mark drops 2lb to 107, but the move from Class 4 into Class 3 makes this a more demanding assignment. James Owen's 12 winners from 53 runners in the past fortnight offer encouragement that the stable is going well. There is also some encouragement for chasing in his family, with sibling Gata Ban a winner over both hurdles and fences.

Won over this course and distance on October 6 on good ground, giving her a particularly relevant success to bring into this race. That followed a Fontwell win over 3m2f on October 3, underlining the progress she has made over fences across different staying trips. Her mark of 105 is 9lb above the rating for her latest Huntingdon win, so she needs to find more again. Both October successes came in Class 5, and today's move into Class 3 presents a stiffer test of that improvement.