Martin Dixon: "I don't want to miss backing him"

I was quite sweet on Traprain Law at a big price in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham and although he didn't justify support there, I felt he ran with a lot of credit to finish seventh and he'll surely find this much smaller field contest easier to dominate. 

A previous course and distance winner, he was also second in this corresponding event from a3 lb higher mark last season. 

We saw at Aintree how well the Paul Nicholls horses saved for spring meetings fared and I'm expecting plenty more improvement from Kabral Du Mathin. 

A lightly-raced five-year-old, he's progressed with each career start and did incredibly well to stay on into second from a long way back in a valuable handicap at Windsor when last seen in January. 

That race has produced a few subsequent winners and improvers and it surprised me that the handicapper has left him on the same mark. This more galloping track ought to suit better than Windsor and he’s my best bet of the day.

I'm hoping for a good start to Rhoscolyn's season in this conditions event, but he generally improves with a run or two behind him and is better on softer ground. 

By contrast, Paborus will be ideally suited by this fast 7f test and I was so impressed by his progress last year that I think he can make into a pattern performer for Ed Bethell this term. 

Although he was only racing off a mark of 90 he hammered what looked a strong field at Southwell in October, coming home five lengths ahead of next-time winner Bobby Bennu, and doing so in a fast time. 

Mount Athos and Flight Plan may well take each other on and ensure a strong pace for Paborus to aim at. 

The Richard Fahey-trained four-year-old is one of my handicappers to follow in 2025. 

He’s a lightly-raced type who boasts some very strong form and was impressive on his final outing last season - and even at odds of 6/4 at the time of writing I don't want to miss backing him against this exposed bunch. 

I'd expect several of his rivals will improve for their first starts of the season, but Musical Touch won off a three-month break when last seen, so in his case I'm not concerned about the absence.