12:40 Warwick

Leg 1 Selections: Non Stop, Groom De Cotte

The ground is bound to be on the soft side at Warwick l this afternoon and NON STOP could be up to making a winning handicap debut here. The Colin Tizzard-trained 4-year-old won on his hurdles debut over C&D and ran well enough under a penalty when third last month. 

He gets the marginal nod to take the opener, though GROOM DE COTTE ran well here on his penultimate start to finish third and must enter calculations off a 1 pound lower mark than when third at Exeter last-time-out. 

13:15 Warwick

Leg 2 Selections: Third Time Lucki, Friend Or Foe

THIRD TIME LUCKI won three times last season and ran well when 2nd to Edwardstone in the Grade 2 Kingmaker here last February. That is the best form on offer plus he drops in grade and is eligible to compete in this off a career-low chase mark as well. 

If the return to this course under a positive ride has a positive outcome, the 8-year-old could easily defy top-weight. FRIEND OR FOE is 2Ib below his last winning mark and should be fitter from his two recent efforts. He handles most ground and could be about to run a big race here. 

13:50 Warwick

Leg 3 Selections: Complete Unknown, Galia Des Liteaux 

COMPLETE UNKNOWN was a useful hurdler last season and, having shaped well on his return over hurdles, he made a winning start over fences at Ffos Las on heavy ground. The return to this longer trip looks in his favour and given his trainer Paul Nicholls has won the last 2 runnings of this race, he should go close.

Of the others, GALIA DES LITEAUX ran no sort of race when pulled up in a Kempton Grade 1 on Boxing Day when her jumping let her down but she might be worth another chance given how impressively she scored on her chase debut. 

14:25 Warwick

Leg 4 Selections: Givega, Grey Dawning

This is a red-hot renewal of the Grade 2 Leamington Novices Hurdle. However, GIVEGA has looked a good prospect in winning both his starts over hurdles to date and could be even better now tackling this longer distance. He has proved he handles all types of ground in both his victories and could complete the hat-trick in this grade. 

Meanwhile, the Dan Skelton-trained GREY DAWNING has won four of his five starts under rules and will be at home under these conditions given he’s three-from-three on soft ground or worse. This is his toughest test to date but he might be equal to the challenge with a lot more to offer. 

15:00 Warwick

Leg 5 Selections: Lord Du Mesnil, Wouldubewell, Threeunderthrufive

This isn’t the strongest editions of the Classic Chase and I like the look of three. The first one is LORD DU MESNIL, who ran well when 2nd of 12 to subsequent Coral Gold Cup winner Le Milos at Bangor in November and will relish this stamina test coupled up with conditions. He is 3Ib lower than when winning a Grade 3 nearly two years ago and therefore has excellent claims. 

Emma Lavelle’s WOULDUBEWELL has been targeted at this race and is lightly raced for her age. She has strong form on soft/heavy ground and wasn’t disgraced when 6th of 17 in the Welsh National last time. She remains well-treated and could go well at large odds, while the top-weight THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE has the class to run a big race for the Paul Nicholls team. 

15:35 Warwick

Leg 6 Selections: Ronald Pump, Ashtown Lad 

RONALD PUMP hasn’t been at his best of late but he is still a high-class horse on his day and would be too good for these if able to rediscover his best form. He has made the frame multiple times in Grade 1 events in this sphere and is 2Ib lower than when beaten just half-a-length into 2nd in the Leinster National last year. 

His losing run has mounted up but it would come as a disappointment if he couldn’t go well here. ASHTOWN LAD was a good winner of the Becher Chase last month and is reverted to hurdles in the hope of exploiting his lower hurdles mark. The 9-year-old would ideally prefer better ground but he’s a class act and remains the one to beat.