Wednesday 4 January 2017 13:54, UK
Kim Bailey is hoping a bit of leeway from the handicapper will help Harry Topper be competitive again.
The 2014 Denman Chase winner has been dropped 6lb by the assessor to a mark of 144 after he was pulled up in the Welsh National at Chepstow on his first outing since February.
Unusually, that race was not run on very soft ground, which Harry Topper needs to be see at his best, but Bailey feels the 10-year-old has now been given a bit of a chance.
"I was happy with him at Chepstow, but the ground was simply too quick," said the Gloucestershire handler.
"He's been given a mark of 144, so that opens up a few options for him now.
"He's just a very slow horse and he needs it absolutely bottomless to slow the others down.
"It wasn't ideal to start him off in a race like the Welsh National but because of his rating we didn't have much choice.
"He'll just go wherever the ground is very soft."
