Exit Swinger may keep Pipe in the pink

The latter was a readymade vessel for the Pipe effect. He duly left behind his previous chasing form on his debut for the record-breaking handler at Cheltenham last month, albeit that a mysteriously poor run from Be My Manager rather cleared his path.

Shooting Light was third in the 1997 Festival's Triumph Hurdle and seventh in the Champion the following year, so the potential was there. But then-trainer Pat Murphy had failed to conjure a similar standard of performance over fences, although there were flashes.

This eight-year-old may be a different proposition under Pipe's tutelage, but a strike rate of just four wins from 27 career starts under National Hunt rules is worrying and he's needed a month off the track immediately preceding all of them. Can he reproduce his form with just 16 days respite? Still fancy him at 2-1?

Foly Pleasant has been a significant market-mover this week and his claims are easier to countenance. This French import ran with great credit in the face of two tough tasks last term, set too much to do over an inadequate trip against smart Eskleybrook and then trying to concede weight to progressive Satchmo.

Henrietta Knight's charge is 3lb better off for two-anda-half lengths with Satchmo here and promised much for this season when beating useful rivals at Stratford last month. The likely fast pace will suit, but a preference for softer ground is off-putting at his single-figure price.

Satchmo is closely matched, yet almost three times his odds. Gardie Grissell ' s representative improved fast last term and could have been of interest had he not taken such a heavy fall at Aintee in April. There may be other excuses, but - like Samakaan - his nerve may have gone.

Robbo's chances would improve with every raindrop. He was eighth in this event last year before narrowly losing out to Go Roger Go in the Tripleprint. Having won his pipe-opener on the Flat last month, better is expected. But good ground means the post could come too soon for his late thrust.

He's strictly entitled to reverse his Ascot form with Eau de Cologne, when the trip was too short for both of them. The latter carries topweight on an 9lb higher mark, but is no forlorn hope on ground that suits. This Lydia Richards-trained gelding did nothing but improve last term, jumps with great fluidity and can turn the tables on Celibate, stripping fitter than when they clashed at Wincanton last month. Eau de Cologne held his own for a long way against Gold Cup types at Sandown in April and can still win from this lofty mark.

French-bred Korakor is interesting - highly tried by former trainer Tim Easterby, successor Ian Williams then found the key was fast ground. His act came together at Ayr in April and he caught the eye behind Shooting Light on sticky ground.

Red Ark is much better than he's shown so far this term and A Piece Of Cake's sound jumping gives him a shout. In-form Stan's Your Man and Dorans Gold both like the ground, but their odds are cramped.