Spotlight: Thorough stayer who won this race (good; acts on soft) last year under Freddie Gordon and is just 1lb higher today; fifth of 18 when 50-1 at Cheltenham was a promising return and he looks primed for a big run.

Spotlight: Won seasonal/chase debut at Newton Abbot (2m5f, heavy) last October; two grim results afterwards (bled from the nose once) but third over 3m at Ffos Las in March was a return to form; one of the less exposed contenders, including at this sort of trip, but he's usually gone well in the mud.

Spotlight: Revitalised 8yo who has had five wins from six races for James Owen, ridden by Nathan Howie in them all; they were on good or good to soft and there's a soft-ground chase win in his back catalogue; unraced over this far but 3m2f was no problem at Newton Abbot in September; he's still not back to his highest mark, had no difficulty seeing off stablemate Ivane at Plumpton last time and is on a major roll.

Spotlight: Off the mark over fences in four-runner handicap here (3m2f, heavy) in February and back-to-form second here on last month's reappearance; also second over C&D on heavy once last winter but he needs to find a bit extra in this hot contest.

Spotlight: Won a race on soft to heavy in his Irish days; big improver over hurdles and fences for James Owen this season, staying on dourly to reel in clear leader in Durham National at Sedgefield (3m5f, good) on penultimate start; couldn't cope with stablemate Shantou Lucky at Plumpton (3m1f) latest, which was still a creditable effort but better is needed; proven stamina is a plus.

Spotlight: Point, bumper and hurdle winner who is 0-4 since switched to chasing in July; second at Chepstow (upped to 3m2f, good to firm) five weeks ago was his best form but he's never raced on ground softer than good under rules.

Spotlight: 3-6 in Irish points; 0-7 under rules but ran a big race when second off this mark in Devon National at Exeter (3m6f, heavy) in February; no answer to Puddlesinthepark one month ago but may have needed that race and should be of renewed interest.

Spotlight: Lost his way last season but more like it this term, bold show when third at Hereford (3m1f, good) last time; peak performances over the extended 3m2f at Plumpton in spring 2024 were a little better than that, including two soft-ground wins; case can be made.

Spotlight: One of the Nicholls horses who had problems last term, as he pulled up on last three starts, but he returned from a wind operation (his second) to win easily on seasonal/chase debut at Plumpton (3m1f, good) four weeks ago; that positive step came in just a three-runner race but he's a lightly raced 6yo who may now be set for further progress.

Spotlight: Never near the principals at Cheltenham on reappearance but that performance (tongue tied after wind surgery) was much more positive than his two runs last term and he's very well handicapped if reverting to the form shown as recently as January 2024.

Spotlight: Resurgent and now better than ever after a three-runner Ffos Las contest one month ago yielded his fifth chase win this year (3m-3m4f on a range of ground); Osian Radford was on board for two of those, including last time; it was just a three-runner race but this 7yo has been raised just 2lb and is going great guns.