Although only three runners look set to go to post in this Grade 2 affair, we could have a nice race on our hands. The Dan Skelton charge is giving the other two runners 5lbs in this, which isn’t much but in this sort of small runner field it could play vital.
Third Time Lucki looked one of the leading novice chasers at the start of the season, winning twice in his first two starts at Cheltenham over fences, winning by a combined 13 lengths with some good horses in behind, after some enthusiastic jumps which looked his main asset, but he always runs very keen early on and that could prove an issue against another horse who will do just that as well.
His run last time out in the Grade 1 Close Brothers Henry VIII Novices Chase at Sandown looked disappointing at the time, but the two horses in front of him that day do look talented in their own right, Edwardstone has won another Graded contest since over Christmas and looks the leading charge for the Arkle at the Cheltenham festival come March, and War Lord has also won at the Winter Millions at Lingfield over the weekend just gone in fine style.
Third Time Lucki does jump very well, but can run very keenly, however is the only horse in the contest to win a Graded contest over fences, so that certainly makes him the class act in this race for a in form yard.
Super Jumper, who is a Grade 2 winner over fences, 2 wins in 3 races over the larger obstacles, looks the class act in this but does run very green, the one to beat.