Verdict

Gentleman At Arms was second in a Grade 1 over hurdles in the spring and Stuart Edmunds is wasting no time putting the five-year-old over fences. The mare Bellatrixsa is also a comparative youngster but she has won four times over hurdles and twice on the Flat and it may be significant that in-form Venetia Williams is starting her off at this level. MAHLER MISSION jumped poorly at Cheltenham considering he looks every inch a chaser. It could be that he just doesn’t handle that course but he won a Grade 2 over hurdles here in January and a Listed race later at Perth. Jet Plane only won a novices’ handicap at Hereford and this is much tougher but he’s still preferred to the disappointing Restandbethankful and Loughderg Rocco.

Formwatch

Autonomous Cloud (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Held up towards rear, not fluent 7th, headway before 4 out, went 2nd from 2 out, green and wandered flat, challenged towards finish, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Sam Barton (12-0) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct.

Big Difference (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Raced wide chasing leaders and pushed along at times, lost place 11th, never on terms after, 5th of 7, 31l behind Creative Control (11-11) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.

Gentleman At Arms (IRE) 28-1 (11-10) Held up in midfield, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, soon beaten, 10th of 13, 23 1/2l behind Botox Has (11-11) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) sft in Nov.

Jet Plane (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Chased leader, led going well 5 out, well clear from 2 out, very easily, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Kyntara (11-12) by 24l, 9 ran.

Loughderg Rocco (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Chased winner, upsides from 4 out, ridden after next, driven and every chance run-in, just held, 2nd of 3, 1/2l behind Gelino Bello (11-2) at Wetherby 3m (3) gs in Oct.

Mahler Mission (IRE) 15-8 (11-2) Chased leader, not fluent 5th or 9th, lost 2nd and ridden 14th, went 2nd again next, challenged 4 out, quickly held by winner after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 2nd of 3, dist behind Chemical Energy (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Oct.

Restandbethankful 13-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 10th, headway before 4 out, outpaced when not fluent 3 out, well held 2 out, went 4th flat, 4th of 7, 19 3/4l behind Ladronne (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Oct.

Bellatrixsa (IRE) 13-8fav (9-4) Slow into stride, pushed along to soon track leaders, chased leader 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Chester 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in May beating Dance To Paris (9-7) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.