ITV Preview Saturday Aintree, Newcastle & Wincanton - 11/11/23

Fergal O'Brien's mare has gone well fresh previously and arrives here off a decent campaign last season in handicap ranks over both hurdles and fences.

Last seen at the end of last season going close in this sphere behind a decent rival at Ludlow. Only put up 2lbs for that she still looks like she's well handicapped in this discipline and looks like she can go close if fully tuned up.

Although the Nicholls team haven't been in their usual flying form so far this season, it's hard to knock the credentials of Knappers Hill in this race.

A dual Grade two winner over hurdles last season, Knappers Hill was sent off a warm favourite for his seasonal comeback at Chepstow last time out but failed to repel the attentions of Unexpected Party.

However, with that run under his belt, he has chasing experience now and is rated 13lbs better than his nearest rival in this. If running to form, he should run out a ready winner.

Hit a real vein of form last season winning three chases in a row before having his sights aimed higher and struggling over hurdles and then a deep race at Sandown at the end of the season.

His exploits in deeper races have brought his mark down to 140 though and that dip in the weights could see him go close again today. Already a multiple course and distance winner, he looks nicely weighted and primed to have a say here. He'll get a nice pace to aim at with Frodon bowling along out in front.

The final card in Nicholls' strong hand at Wincanton for the day is Rubaud. A rapidly improving novice hurdler last season who claimed some handsome prizes in Grade Two company including the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

Reappearing this season at Kempton last month, he kept the winning thread and managed to easily score in listed company. With that win under his belt and this looking a poor renewal of the Elite Hurdle, it's hard to look away from the short priced favourite.

A previous course and distance winner here as a novice last year, Plenty Of Time was then given a long lay off before a poor showing over hurdles.

Nearly a year off the track followed again with her only making a reappearance recently over fences last month, however she defied the absence and ran on smartly to win at this venue over fences.

She now reverts back to the smaller obstacles but arrives in fine form and looking capable of going close again off a lowly looking mark of 119.

Harry Eustace's charge had some decent form on the all-weather at the end of last year, finishing close in some deep looking handicap events behind the talented Al Agaila.

Switched to the turf for the summer, she failed to show the same level of ability as she was on the synthetic tracks, although she did run well to place in a listed event at Salisbury.

If appreciating her return to the all-weather track, she can certainly have a say.

A winner of last year's Chipchase Stakes, injury took a toll on the exciting looking Sense Of Duty and she's only been seen twice since then.

Running in graded events this Autumn, she's failed to really recapture the form she showed at this venue last summer. If recapturing that form she can certainly have a say dropping back in grade and coming back to a course and distance that she really made her mark at.

A solid middle distance handicapper who's only finished outside the top 4 once in his career, Chillingham hasn't managed to win since April but has has gone close in some deep looking contests this season.

A solid run at Royal Ascot to be 3rd behind Vauban, he was then only narrowly touched off on his next run. Slightly disappointing when last seen, his mark drops back 1lb to 98 and he's gone close on an all-weather surface before.

If running to his usual level it would be no surprise to see him making the frame again.

Stuart Coltherd's charge showed a liking for these fences in the Topham last season when travelling powerfully before being hampered by a faller 4 out.

He took his form to another level when coming 2nd to the emphatic Kitty's Light in the Scottish National at the end of the season. Only raised 3lbs in the handicap for that run, he still looks well weighted to go nicely here.

Plenty of stamina and he's proven he can handle these fences, another bold showing could be on the cards.