Cheltenham Festival hero Mister Whitaker faces stiff test in Colin Parker

3.45 CarlisleColin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase (Listed) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | RUK

Recent winners Waiting Patiently and Many Clouds set the bar pretty high but this traditionally informative contest looks well up to scratch this year.

Bristol De Mai (2016) is another top-class chaser to have run in this intermediate contest, which has attracted six horses with a BHA rating of at least 140 – all with potential for improvement in their second season over fences.

Mister Whitaker arguably brings the best piece of form into the race as he is already a Cheltenham Festival winner, having landed the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase last March.

Watch Mister Whitaker win at Cheltenham

Trainer Mick Channon said: "He's wintered well and I couldn't be happier with him. He's won at the track so we're giving him a spin.

"It's a good race, you could finish last and still run a blinder. They're all potentially nice horses."

He is entered in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham, as is Rene's Girl, who was second in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree last April.

BetVictor Gold Cup entries

"This is a very strong race but Rene's Girl gets the mares' allowance and I'm sure the track and trip will be fine," said trainer Dan Skelton.

"She finished last season with a second in a Grade 1, which is always good, and she's entered in the BetVictor Gold Cup while we have the mares' route open to us too."

Cyrname, who was five lengths behind Rene's Girl in fourth place at Aintree, is Paul Nicholls' first runner in this race since he won it with Saphir Du Rheu in 2015.

The trainer was delighted with his progress as a chaser and said: "This time last year I was tearing my hair out as he was so keen, both at home and on the track. Then we put him over fences and the penny finally dropped.

"He bolted up on his debut, having settled nicely, and hasn't looked back. He won two Grade 2s, wasn't beaten far in a Grade 1 and is a different animal. He's slightly better right-handed."

Auteuil winner Saint Leo makes his debut for Sandy Thomson, who won this race with Seeyouatmidnight in 2016, while Kerry Lee runs Happy Diva.

Lee said: "We’d like rain but she ran very well there first time out last year as a novice. This is a race I've had an eye on long term, she's okay at the weights and I'd love to hope she's open to more improvement."

Patrick needs rain

Tom Lacey has warned that he will not run Ladbrokes Trophy entry Thomas Patrick if the ground is too quick.

"We’re praying for rain and we won’t be afraid to take him home if they don't get it," he said. "He needs match practice for the Ladbrokes Trophy and there’s a race at Sandown next weekend but he’s only six and he has his life ahead of him."

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