Having scored in fine style last time out, Little Bruce looks a worthy 100/30 favourite with William Hill to make light of a rise in the weights and follow-up in the 4m Edinburgh National Handicap Chase at Musselburgh on Saturday (15:15).
This Phil Kirby trained eight-year-old showed progessive form when sent chasing last season, winning twice and finishing a fine second of 11 to Bob Mahler in a decent class 3 contest at Cheltenham on his final start of the campaign.
That effort suggested that there could be even better to come from Little Bruce.
Following a promising third on return to action over hurdles at Doncaster, the impression was confirmed when he landed the 3m 6f North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick last month.
After being punted off the boards and sent of the 15/8 favourite, the son of Yeats never gave his supporters an anxious moment.
Leading claims of Edinburgh National success
Little Bruce raced sweetly on the heels of the leaders and, after being produced to take up the running at the last, only had to be ridden out to account for Sumkindofking by three lengths.
He was well on top at the finish and value for more than the winning margin.
Despite being 6lb worse off with the runner-up, Little Bruce is fully expected to confirm the placings off a career-high mark of 138.
The North Yorkshire National triumph was a career-best performance from this upwardly mobile gelding. That 6lb hike in weight may not be enough to stop him going in again.
Ground conditions are also ideal and Little Bruce goes extremely well for jockey Thomas Dowson, who has a 38 per cent strike rate on him.
So, taking everything into account, there is nothing not to like about his chances in this feature contest.
Side with Sebastopol in Scottish County Hurdle
Sebastopol failed to live up to expectations last time out but, following a break, looks worth another chance to confirm previous promise in the 2m Scottish County Hurdle (14:05).
After winning his sole bumper start at Ayr, this Tom Lacey trained six-year-old shaped really well on hurdling debut when fourth of 14 to subsequent Supreme runner-up Thomas Darby at Cheltenham.
That race has thrown-up plenty of subsequent winners. He then got turned over at odds-on when third of 12 to Whoshotthesherrif at Ayr.
That one has won twice since, however, and finished a fine fifth of 18 to Not So Sleepy in the Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot off a rating of 136 when last seen in action.
Sebastopol was allotted an opening handicap mark of 127 on the back of those efforts. He made a total mockery of it when bolting up by seven lengths on seasonal reappearance at Wincanton.
After being slowly away and held-up well off the pace, the son of Fame And Glory scythed through the field to take up the running at the last. He then pulled readily clear to win with tons in hand.
Sebastopol was then sent off a heavily-backed favourite to follow-up off 10lb higher, but ran a bit flat.
He didn’t find as much as he looked likely too at one stage when a 14 lengths fourth of 13 to Highly Prized.
That race may well have come to quickly for this lightly-raced type, who has clearly not been the easiest to train.
So, having been dropped a pound to 136, he may well bounce back following a 81-day beak to freshen up.
Sebastopol also now has his ideal ground and trip, so odds of 9/2 with Paddy Power here make plenty of appeal on Edinburgh National day.
Locker Room Talk the Champion Chase choice
In the 2m Scottish Champion Chase (14:40), the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Locker Room Talk looks to hold leading claims of landing the hat-trick.
This seven-year-old ran well to finish third in his first two starts over fences this season.
He then opened his account over the larger obstacles in good style at Taunton when beating Admiral’s Secret by seven lengths off a mark of 127.
Locker Room Talk made all and stayed on strongly to win unchallenged, and the runner-up has since come out an bolted up at Leicester.
The strapping son of Beneficial got put up 7lb for that taking success, but showed tremendous battling qualities to follow-up of his revised rating of 134 when edging out Delire D’estruval in a class 2 contest at Sandown.
Finnegan’s Garden, who finished 14 lengths behind in third, has won since – so that gives the form a solid look.
The handicapper has reacted by putting up Locker Room Talk up another 5lb to a career-high mark of 139. That makes things tougher.
However, he now drops down in grade into class 3 company, so given his progressive profile there is every chance that he will be capable of defying it.
Jordan Nailor also takes off 5lb with his claim. If taking into account, Locker Room Talk is running off the same mark as last time out.
That looks like a shrewd move by connections. Locker Room Talk makes plenty of appeal with at 3/1 with William Hill to go in again on Edinburgh National day.
