Proven stayers are the way to go in Saturday's Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick (due off 3.40pm), which is run over a gruelling 3m5f.
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Only one of the last 10 winners had not previously won at a trip in excess of 3m and the exception, Ladalko, had finished runner-up in the previous season's Scottish National. That's a black mark against the fancied pair Major Malarkey and Hey Big Spender, who could be running on empty close home, and the latter also has the burden of top weight.
There are no such worries over Neptune Equester, who wasn't stopping when scoring over 3m4f at Haydock on Betfair Chase day and, despite being 7lb higher here, he still looks nicely weighted on 10st6lb. He wasn't so great when a well beaten fifth at Wetherby on Boxing Day but that was over an inadequate 3m and the slow pace was also against him. He should do a lot better over this trip and his trainer Brian Ellison was in confident mood this week saying "he's my nap of the week", so he's quite rightly favourite with most firms, with Totesport's 13/2 standout at the time of writing.
However, before you go lumping on, there are a few others to consider in what is a competitive handicap, including joint 13/2 favourite Sona Sasta, who is another out-and-out stayer. A winner over 3m2f over hurdles last season, he chased home subsequent Welsh National winner Le Beau Bai at Chepstow on his reappearance and was not disgraced on his next start when finishing midfield in Leopardstown's Paddy Power Chase over Christmas, both times over 3m. Back up in trip he looks a major player but he's a horse who goes best when the mud is flying and, if the weather forecast can be believed, the ground should ride no slower than good to soft.
Trainer Charlie Longsdon is fast making a name for himself and he runs an interesting one here in the shape of the seven-year-old STRONGBOWS LEGEND, a 7/1 shot with bet365. Always a consistent sort over fences, he has improved recently for more positive tactics, hacking up in handicap chase over 3m1f at Hereford on his penultimate start, and he might well have followed up in the Sussex National as he was still going well when unseating his rider at the tricky downhill 10th. Normally a good jumper, he remains at the right end of the handicap - he's 5lb wrong at the weights but that is negated by his rider's claim - and it will be a surprise if he's not involved in the finish.
Anything Alan King runs in this race has to be respected as he has won the last two renewals and he relies on Blazing Bailey (10/1 Stan James) this time. He's not getting younger at 10 but will find this a much easier test than his previous two races, having taken in the Hennessy (8th) and Welsh National (pulled up), and the handicapper has relented by dropping him to 146, which is a mark he won off last season. However, the record of horses that ran in the Chepstow marathon is abysmal, suggesting the three week gap is an insufficient recovery period, and he's opposed on that count.
Faasel (11/1 Paddy Power) goes well fresh and stays extreme distances so he could go well on his reappearance but this looks between Neptune Equester and Strongbows Legend, and the latter is just preferred in receipt of 11lb.
