12:45 Hallgarten & Novum Wines Maghull Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Race preview

SALVATOR MUNDI won the Grade 1 novices' hurdle at this meeting last year and must be taken seriously after he came good with a facile success over fences at Thurles in February. That was just his third start in this discipline and was a big improvement on his previous disappointing sixth in the Racing Post Chase at Leopardstown. Despite this being a more demanding task, the return to this flatter course could be instrumental for the six-year-old taking another big step forward. Mighty Bandit has also made solid progress and fully deserves a crack at a Grade 1 after winning three of his four starts as a chaser. He is progressive and looks a big danger to the selection. Kala Conti's defeat of the subsequent Arkle winner Kargese at Cork reads very well and is the ready pick of Gordon Elliott's pair. Be Aware disappointed in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham but is another who should find this course more to his liking.