The forecast heavy ground is going to make this a thorough test of stamina.

Inch House is a progressive young horse, as demonstrated by his latest two wins at Newbury. However, the handicapper has taken no chances with him and raised him 17lb for those victories, I also wonder whether he can be as effective on this undulating track as he has been on vastly different flat track at Newbury.

Venetia Williams has been in red-hot form over the past couple of months and will be hoping that rolls over into 2024. Cloudy Glen hasn’t always been the most consistent but has run well on both starts this season. Firstly, when second at this course over 3m3f, and he was then far from disgraced when finishing fifth in a competitive renewal of the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.

He has plenty of good form on soft and heavy ground, so the attritional conditions are of no concern, and his rating of 143 is just 3lb higher than his highest winning mark. He's also demonstrated over the past couple of season that his rating is not a mark that prevents him from being competitive.

Stage Star is undoubtedly the class horse in this field, but carrying 12st on this ground, as well as conceding upwards of 16lb to some decent opposition, is a big ask. Furthermore, the presence of Frero Banbou in the field might disrupt his rhythm, given that Charlie Deutsch is firmly of the opinion that Venetia Williams' charge is best when ridden prominently, as he was when finishing a gallant third here in the December Gold Cup. 

If Stage Star and Frero Banbou do take each other on, it could well set the race up nicely for the selection, Shakem Up’Arry.

The Ben Pauling-trained, and Harry Redknapp-owned, son of Flemensfirth caught the eye in the Coral Gold Cup on his last start where, on what was his second start after a wind op, he travelled powerfully through the race before failing to stay the 3m2f trip.

Helpfully, the handicapper wasn’t as taken with the performance and dropped him 4lb (as big a drop as I’ve seen this season) meaning Shakem Up’arry is now back on a ratign of 139 – the same mark he ran off when beaten just five lengths in the Magners Plate Handicap Chase over course and distance at the Cheltenham Festival. 

As you’d expect for a Festival handicap, that was a fiercely tough race, with the runner-up Fugitif advertising the form with his win in the December Gold Cup recently off a 2lb higher mark.

With wins on soft ground, and a second in the Tolworth, achieved on heavy ground, these conditions could prove optimal for this strong finisher. Stage Star is the class act, but weight stops trains, and I fully expect ‘Arry to shake up the favourite.

This handicap hurdle is full of promising, and progressive, young stayers, and while I respect the classy looking Springwell Bay, for me the standout horse in this race is the Sam Thomas-trained Ed Keeper.

It looked as though the step up to this trip unlocked previously unseen levels of ability as he destroyed a strong looking field at Newbury on his latest start. A 7lb rise from the handicapper since is sizeable, but inadequate given the unrelenting nature of that win.

The form looks exceptionally strong, too. Rambo T was sixteen lengths behind in sixth yet advertised his ability when a commanding winner on his next start at Newbury on Saturday. Ramo (25 lengths back in eighth) and Skandiburg (35 lengths behind in tenth) have both also been placed on there next start outings.

With just five career starts, and at just five years of age, this son of Hunters Light is open to untold amounts of natural progression. I expect him to win this with yet another devastating exhibition of relentless galloping.