Casual Observer is a horse I expect to improve markedly with experience, so keep an eye on him, but preference here is for Lord Of Thunder, who has been improving nicely over hurdles having been given the tough task of making his hurdling debut in the Grade 2 Persian War.

He has since finished second to the well-regarded Il Pino over course and distance, before going one better next time out back at Wincanton in good style. While he is carrying a penalty, his official rating of 120 sets the standard here and there should be even more to come.

A race that doesn’t appear to have much depth, with many having a low level of form.

Majestic Jameela is only rated 97 and is carrying a penalty, but her four-year-old allowance means she’s getting weight from all of her rivals and her sole hurdles win came on very testing ground at Leicester. Admittedly, the form of that race isn’t strong but she should handle conditions today and is likely to be ridden positively, which is also a bonus. She was far from disgraced last time out in a listed race last time out, and this represents a significant drop in grade.

A very tricky race to solve, and with only two places on offer, this could be tough for Placepot purposes.

I’m giving Mr Grey Sky a chance to bounce back having run poorly last time out; but that was a stronger race and they reported that the ground wasn’t testing enough on that occasion which will not be a problem here. He’s the confirmed front-runner in the race, and if getting into a rhythm, could be hard to catch with David Bass back on board. Cheekpieces go on for the first time, and Kim Bailey’s runners outperform market expectations in first-time cheekpieces.

As is so often the case with class 5 handicaps, most of these have plenty to prove.

A chance is taken on Fourofakind to bounce back to the form he showed in the Spring of last season, which would give him a massive chance in a race like this. His third to Under Control is solid form and he beat V Twelve by, rather appropriately, twelve-lengths in a maiden hurdle; he is now rated 100, making Fourofakind’s mark of 102 seem more than workable.

Harry Derham is already proving to be an astute target trainer and he boasts a 25% strike-rate at the track. Crucially, the tongue-tie and cheekpieces return having been absent on his first two starts this season.

Handling the ground will be key to success today, and you can question whether the majority of these will enjoy conditions.

One that should relish the ground is Georges Saint, who arrives here looking for a three-timer having won on soft ground at Ffos Las and heavy ground at Fakenham. His most recent win looked unlikely for most of the way, but he rallied gamely to outstay his rivals; the sharp test that Fakenham provides wouldn’t have been ideal for him, and while Wincanton wouldn’t be the most galloping track, it should be more suitable for Georges Saint than Fakenham was.

Astronomic View is a horse I like and I do believe he’s capable of winning a handicap from his current mark, but I struggle to get away from Individualiste who arrives here having won comfortably a week ago, and has only gone up four pounds for that success.

Still unexposed, Paul Nicholls was bullish about his chances last weekend, sighting his preference for testing ground and it’s a similar story here. There should still be more to come from this progressive six-year-old.