Race of the Day Preview / Timeform / 25 October 2009 / Leave a comment

This is likely to be run at a decent gallop with a few front runners in attendance. That should suit the hold-up merchants and Leslingtaylor fits the bill. Beggars Cap and Tramantano could fare best of the rest.

"Leslingtaylor was better than ever over fences last term, winning a valuable handicap at Doncaster in February. He returned in good heart when fourth at Market Rasen recently and is a big player on a track that suits."

Palomar is a fairly useful hurdler who won both his completed chasing starts at the backend of 2008. He was in contention when falling in a stronger event at Musselburgh in February, but has been allotted a stiff mark on his handicap bow.

Leslingtaylor was better than ever over fences last term, winning a valuable handicap at Doncaster in February. He returned in good heart when fourth at Market Rasen recently and is a big player on a track that suits.

Beggars Cap is a sound jumper who has steadily progressed over fences, producing a career-best effort when winning over course and distance in May. He has more on his plate now, but is possibly capable of better still.

Astarador is an enthusiastic front runner who has proved just as good since going chasing, but his erratic jumping is holding back his progress over fences and he remains on a stiff mark back in a handicap.

Tramantano has often been let down by his jumping, but produced a career-best effort off a similar mark when third over course and distance in April. He is unlikely to lack for fitness on his return, so has to be respected.

Saphir Des Bois made a successful start to his career in this country when making all at Wincanton in January. He produced a good second in a Cheltenham handicap when last seen in April, but is up in the weights on his return.

Dev is a bold-jumping front runner who was back to somewhere near his best when third in cheekpieces at Worcester last month, but has not won since March 2008 and the headgear needs to do its job once more.

The Duke's Speech has never really hit the heights over fences. He was more fluent than usual when landing a three-runner event at Perth last month, but this is much tougher and these fences are a lot stiffer.

Safari Adventures has shown marked improvement in his last three starts, winning twice prior to chasing home The Duke's Speech at Perth last time, but the presence of other front-runners will not make life easy.

Tags: Aintree, Astarador, Beggars Cap, Dev, Leslingtaylor, Palomar, Safari Adventures, Saphir Des Bois, The Duke's Speech, Tramantano