"He's a former Last Fling winner in 2018 and finished third in a Grand National Trial at Haydock two years ago, so he has to be of interest from 125."
Under the microscope today are meetings at Catterick and Fontwell for Alan, with a selection at each...
Gustavian has the stamina to win at Fontwell
13:30 Fontwell - Back Gustavian @ 4.03/1
Ben Godfrey's claim of 7lb will come in handy on board top weight Gustavian in the 13:30 at Fontwell, and he deserves to get his head in front following two seconds this season.
Often keen in his races, the hood was absent last time but he still ran well over Chepstow's 3m off a steady pace in 0-130 company, and the lack of tempo wouldn't have suited him with the way he can race freely.
Dropping in distance today shouldn't be a problem as he was a very easy winner in testing conditions at Exeter, and he's well treated in my opinion from 122 given his bumper form. One of those efforts was against Mario De Pail - and he's now rated nearly 140.
With four course and distance winners facing testing ground in opposition, Gustavian should not be lacking for stamina.
Chef can serve up a win in Catterick feature
Back Chef D'Oeuvre @ 6.05/1
The North Yorkshire Grand National is the headline act at Catterick, and the big question here is how Le Breuil will comeback after his wind op. He's certainly well treated as a former National Hunt Chase winner at Cheltenham, but I worry slightly about the wind surgery.
I'd much rather take the bigger price on Sam England's Chef D'Oeuvre, who was a fine staying chaser in 2018/19 but then had a long time on the sidelines. Six hundred and six days in fact.
His comeback at Ayr was a blip, but it was a good to see him back at Wetherby last time finishing second over a trip that was shy of his best, but he stayed on nicely to suggest he's still got plenty of his old ability.
Staying chases in heavy and testing conditions is what he needs, so he won't be stopping if it becomes a grueling marathon. He's a former Last Fling winner in 2018 and finished third in a Grand National Trial at Haydock two years ago, so he has to be of interest from 125.