14:10
Brelan d'As
A nice horse who won by 30 lengths in the French provinces in the autumn before he was sent to me by JP McManus a couple of months ago so I am still learning about him.
I haven't done a great deal with Brelan d'As who has a 7lb penalty and will be ridden for the first time by Barry Geraghty.
Hopefully this is a horse for the future.
14:40
Politologue
Did well last time in finishing second to the very smart novice Barter's Hill and was so unlucky the time before when he suddenly jinked and unseated Sam Twiston-Davies when full of running going to the final hurdle at Cheltenham.
Sam came back saying they would have been bang there at the finish.
I wanted to give Politologue one more run for experience before the Cheltenham Festival and the stiff track here will suit him well. Nicky Henderson's Buveur d'Air is clearly the one to beat.
15:10
The Eaglehaslanded
Needs to finish in the first six to qualify for the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham. He has been running consistently well all season and the testing ground should be fine for him but I do think he is now handicapped to the limit.
16:10
Easter Day
Has had more than his share of bad luck over the last couple of seasons and only just failed to collar Wychwoods Brook at Taunton last time.
The handicapper promptly raised Easter Day 4lbs which at least qualified him for this type of Graduation Chase.
Easter Day is overdue a win and hopefully it might come here. He has plenty of ability, goes on the ground and jumped well at Taunton.
16:40
Southfield Vic
May have looked a bit disappointing last time at Wincanton but King's Odyssey, who beat him that day, well and truly franked the form at Cheltenham at the end of January.
This trip should suit Southfield Vic who is still a bit careful over his fences and would prefer better ground in an ideal world.
It is important to get a third run into him over fences so that he is qualified for handicaps.
I expect him to go well in this race before progressing as a chaser.