Looking through the handicap marks this week, there are less horses this week that catch my eye having dropped in the handicap. I did have a look at a few such as Snow Leopardess and Hill Sixteen from the Becher Chase but feel the former is still feeling the affects of the National whilst the latter is still too high in the handicap.

Olly Murphy stepped Gunsight Ridge back up in trip again and again it failed to work. I really hope Olly gives up with this plan and reverts back to 2m or maybe reverts back come Grand Annual day. He’s now had 4 runs over 2m3f to 2m5f and has never been able to win with his form reading 3225 however he’s finished behind Ecco, Prince Escalus, Kiltealy Briggs, Cooper’s Cross and Handsworth. I don’t think any of these are that ahead of their mark and don’t think Gunsight Ridge is a 2 1/2 mile horse and should be dropping back in trip to 2m. After winning at Aintree of 2m in November he went up 4lb and after dropping 1lb this time, he’s only 3lb higher rated. I do wonder whether connections may give him another run over 2 1/2 mile with the aim of getting him to drop another pound or 2 before aiming for the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March.

Five Star Getaway finished a never nearer 5th in the Becher Chase and was dropped 2lb for that. He’s back down to 130 which is the same mark as when he won at Kempton on the 27th December 2021. I would imagine that this is where he’s likely to be seen next and you would be confident of a big run from the front (ridden differently here). His effort in the Becher was ‘quiet’ and he ran on strongly without ever really being put in the race. I think connections have other plans with him and the Kempton races are likely those plans. He was only sent off 6/1 for the lucrative 3m handicap at Kempton in February but ran flat and you would imagine a return to here would be the goal. Having won at Kempton on the 27th last year, I think he’ll be back this year again and should go well off the same 130 mark.

Langer Dan was never put in his most recent race at Aintree and I don’t think he’s being aimed at races worth 20k with very little prestige. He was regarded as one of the best handicapped hurdlers coming into the Cheltenham Festival last season off a mark of 137 when he was brought down at the 2nd. He made amends (kind of) when winning at Aintree beating Fils D’oudaries with the pair well clear. Langer Dan is now rated just 5lb higher than when he was sent off 7/2 for a Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham. Having bumped into Galopin Des Champs the year before and unseating last season, I don’t think they will go back for that race again HOWEVER I do think they will be back at Cheltenham in the Coral Cup where Harry Skelton will be able to ride and it wouldn’t surprise me if come race day, he was around this mark and was backed off the boards and at least went off a clear favourite!

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