My understanding is that he's an intended runner at this stage. I'm also reluctant to back irish horses ante post over here but that's the info I was given at the end of last week.

Don't shoot me if it turns out wrong though!!

I like him because as an ante post proposition he doesn't seem to be too ground dependent either. I was there when he handled terrible ground when 2nd behind Drive Time and was also effective on better ground in the Jewson. I think he'll see out the trip but I suppose how he copes with the Cheltenham hill is an unknown

Another Marito fan signing in here, Surely this has be the plan!

Splinter,

Three of us used to travel down to the PP every year. Flights Glasgow-Bristol, hire a car, b and b. One year our b and b let us down at the last minute and we had to hire an expensive apartment.  Next door was NTD and the glasses in the apartment were hopeless for listening through the wall!

NTD was probably brassing it up .... probably ... er ... mmm

Anyway look, when are the weights out for this ??

More buttons today for Marito but I even spoke to a bloke who is connected and trust me, if you knew Willie you wouldn't even know if MARITO goes for this as he simply does not tell anyone.

Villaboy - I'd be keen to learn on clues as to your source as through my connections they have no way of knowing at all if the horse comes over.

Not heard anything about running plans, but Katenko has some very decent form, beating the likes of Fruity O'Rooney senseless, and has a clearcut verdict over Johns Spirit, course form and Venetia knows how to get one ready for this.

Not exactly a trends horse, but one that interests me nonetheless. Assuming the setback that ruled him out last season wasn't a big issue, this one could be a potential star performer.

11/4642- FINIAN'S RAINBOW (IRE) 10-11-12 Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson
0/11121- DYNASTE (FR)  7-11-08 John White  David Pipe
2/11151- CAPTAIN CONAN (FR) 6-11-08 Triermore Stud Nicky Henderson
14133-6 WISHFULL THINKING 10-11-07 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
12411P-4 BENEFFICIENT (IRE) 7-11-06 A Shiels/Niall Reilly Tony Martin IRE
2/24251- CHAMPION COURT (IRE) 8-11-06 Mark Boothright Martin Keighley
4/F0211- KATENKO (FR)  7-11-06 A Brooks  Venetia Williams
0/43112-1 ROLLING ACES (IRE) 7-11-05 Paul Barber, Ian Fogg & David Martin Paul Nicholls
14/P3P0- GRANDS CRUS (FR) 8-11-04 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds III David Pipe
2F1011- RAJDHANI EXPRESS 6-11-04 Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson
2131-21 CONQUISTO   8-11-03 P J Martin  Steve Gollings
2/04422- REALT DUBH (IRE)  9-11-03 Des Sharkey  Noel Meade IRE
521F25- FAGO (FR)   5-11-01 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls
106F-21 HIDDEN CYCLONE (IRE) 8-11-01 Mrs A F Mee & David Mee John Hanlon IRE
113114-3 UNIONISTE (FR)  5-11-01 John Hales  Paul Nicholls
133120-3 TEXAS JACK (IRE)  7-11-00 Robert Watson Noel Meade IRE
33262-1 THIRD INTENTION (IRE) 6-11-00 Robert and Sarah Tizzard Colin Tizzard
21125-U VINO GRIEGO (FR)  8-11-00 C E Stedman  Gary Moore
22P52-U WALKON (FR)  8-11-00 McNeill Family  Alan King
05/4520- KID CASSIDY (IRE) 7-10-13 J P McManus  Nicky Henderson
F0311-1 BATTLE GROUP  8-10-13 Jolly Boys Outing Johnny Farrelly
3-22236 WOOLCOMBE FOLLY (IRE) 10-10-13 The Hon Mrs Townshend Paul Nicholls
141522-2 TAP NIGHT (USA)  6-10-13 J P McManus  Lucinda Russell
1225F-0 KUMBESHWAR  6-10-11 McNeill Family & Nigel Bunter Alan King
2P301-13 TRIOLO D'ALENE (FR) 6-10-10 Mr & Mrs Sandy Orr Nicky Henderson
5211U-0 COLBERT STATION (IRE) 9-10-10 J P McManus  Ted Walsh IRE
2/113F2- MARITO (GER)  7-10-10 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
0/5110P-6 BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) 8-10-09 Lesley Field  Alan King
3/311PU-0 ULCK DU LIN (FR)  5-10-07 Mrs Johnny de la Hey  Paul Nicholls
115U-0P TERMINAL (FR)  6-10-07 Favourites Racing Willie Mullins IRE
0112//01/- SALUT FLO (FR)  8-10-07 Allan Stennett  David Pipe
61P16-0 CARRICKBOY (IRE) 9-10-07 Trevor Hemmings Venetia Williams
61/0P10- BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) 7-10-06 Allan Stennett  David Pipe
40F-452 ASTRACAD (FR)  7-10-05 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
122102- MA FILLEULE (FR)  5-10-05 Simon Munir  Nicky Henderson
31/214-P0 EASTER METEOR  7-10-03 Mr & Mrs S C Willes Emma Lavelle
3U3P15- NADIYA DE LA VEGA (FR) 7-10-03 J P McManus  Nicky Henderson
2//421F1- RUPERT LAMB  7-10-02 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
26033-1 JOHNS SPIRIT (IRE) 6-10-02 Christopher W T Johnston Jonjo O'Neill
F2/2425- COLOUR SQUADRON (IRE) 7-10-02 J P McManus  Philip Hobbs
3/41523-1 BURY PARADE (IRE) 7-10-02 Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Bury Parade Paul Nicholls
2U2F/-60 GIFT OF DGAB (IRE) 9-10-01 Gigginstown House Stud Tony Martin IRE
P40060- HECTOR'S CHOICE (FR) 9-10-00 James and Jean Potter Richard Lee
20360-60 DUKE OF LUCCA (IRE) 8-9-12  Lesley Field  Philip Hobbs
53P-613 DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) 7-9-10  Options O Syndicate Nigel Twiston-Davies
B0S303 SWEET MY LORD (FR) 7-9-08  Aiden Devaney Willie Mullins IRE
3330-P2 ATTAGLANCE  7-9-08  H Young, G Eifert, R Snyder Malcolm Jefferson
4-P3120 SEAN AIRGEAD (IRE) 8-9-07  Brendan Flynn Mark McNiff IRE
U/606F0- TATENEN (FR)  9-9-05  The Stewart Family Richard Rowe

Can I just say that after yesterdays effort I still think Module would have had a clear favourites chance in the Paddy Power.

I think Mullins understated things in his stable tour when he said Marito was in with a chance of placing when coming down in the Jewson, although that's not unusual for WPM. I think he's been left on his Irish mark?

Marito will run off 147 which is the same as his mark in Ireland. I was expecting a mark in the low 150s.

I think its 20

Following the weights being published my highest rated trend horses are:

Captain Conan 100%
Dynaste 100%
Benefficient 100%
Rajdhani Express 100%
Unioniste 100%
Third Intention 95%
Texas Jack 94%

Some doubts about participation of a few of those (Dynaste / Benefficient / Texas Jack); not entirely convinced Captain Conan properly stays the trip, though being a year older might have seen him strengthen up a bit. From a betting perspective, Rajdhani Express is probably the safer option.

All aboard the Rajdhani Express.....

Thanks Villaboy, signs certainly encouraging but Irish runners notoriously reticent in competing in this race, fingers and everything crossed, he runs he wins IMO

Can't have Rajdhani Express at the weights with John's Spirit. I have to agree Marito looks to have been given a chance ;)getting 12lbs from Dynaste.

I couldn't have considered Captain Conan because I had deeply engrained in my mind that we've seen the evidence that he doesn't stay over 20f on a stiff track, if I could get over that somehow I'd be all over him as he's real quality isn't he, anyway by all accounts he has done particularly well over the summer and strengthened up and I'm wondering if that's going to make the difference for him, after all at least we have seen him win over 20f all be it at liverpool, I think that I'm going to gamble on the summer he's had making the difference for him, he's better than 159.

Agree,to me he struggles at this distance, that's the evidence we have so far anyway.

I noticed Maritos entry on the 14th, we can only hope! I have a feeling he will go for the Paddy Power as when you look at his Cheltenham run in March he is so well handicapped on that! Where he would have finished is open to debate and personally wouldn't like to say because the hill finds a lot of horses out. He was on level weights that day yet he receives weight from all his rivals here? He looks to have been given a real chance by the handicapper here, in fact for once the Irish can't complain. I thought I read somewhere that W Mullins and R Walsh were to target more English races this season? This would be a great starting point ;)

COME ON MARITO !!!! COME OVER RUBY, WILLIE and YES YOU FAT CAT IN A HAT RICH RICCI !!! COME ON !!!

Desperation .... Ricci does call himself Fatcatinahat though .. has a nag by the same name

whilst I can see where marito looks well handicapped on what may have happened in the Jewson I honestly believe he just doesn't see the trip out can see him running big race but floundering after the last looks like dynaste going for this before king george