LACDOUDAL (3.20) must take all the beating with the benefit of his favoured soft surface in the Racing Post Chase at Sandown.

The £100,000 showpiece has attracted a heap of top three-mile National Hunt stars but arguably none boast the combined staying and jumping power of the Philip Hobbs-trained grey.

Jockey Richard Johnson gets on famously with Lacdoudal, who three starts ago pulverised the classy My Will with an exhibition round worthy of a potential future Grand National winner.

It really was spine-tingling stuff from the Minehead-in-Somerset-based seven-year-old, not noted for hanging about because Johnson's modus operandi generally involves putting his rivals to sleep as early as possible.

Without wishing to tempt fate, Lacdoudal is normally so devastatingly fast and accurate at his obstacles, Johnson will likely try to boot his mount clear long before the field reach the home straight.

Current ante-post exchanges indicate the selection is going to line up as the 6-1 favourite, the sort of starting price which begs an each-way wager seeing as Lacdoudal looks nailed on to at least make the frame.

Disputing the right to be market leader is Ladalko, a bitter disappointment when failing to land some big bets over course and distance last time out.

Maybe there were valid excuses on account of the fast ground, nonetheless Ladalko appears vulnerable and more danger may emerge from Graphic Approach who, like Lacdoudal, also has a proven track record at the Esher venue.

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