Course specialist Imperial Saint can land the William Hill Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase at Aintree on Sunday.
Owned by a syndicate run by former champion jockey Richard Johnson and trained by his old boss Philip Hobbs in partnership with Johnson White, the selection improved in leaps and bounds last season.
He began his campaign at this exact fixture off a mark of 124 and won cosily from a horse who went on to win at the Punchestown Festival in Petit Tonnerre.
Two weeks later he returned to Merseyside and was much more impressive off a 4lb higher mark, which saw the handicapper hit him with a 10lb hike which halted his progress next time out at Newbury.
Back at Aintree on Boxing Day, however, he won again easily, forcing him up another 7lb.
A creditable third at Cheltenham on Trials day and fourth at Kempton in the Pendil followed before he ended his season back at Aintree and met with his first defeat on the Mildmay course when he might not have got home over 4800m.
Back at his more favourable trip and in receipt of weight from all bar one of his rivals, a big run looks assured.
Jordans Cross could be the next improver from Anthony Honeyball's yard.
A point-to-point winner over 4800m, he was just caught out for speed when second in his only bumper at Chepstow.
A month later he went to Southwell for a successful hurdling debut and while he was beaten into second on his only other outing at Doncaster when stepped up in trip, he came out of the race as the best horse at the weights.
As he is so inexperienced he starts his new career in the Stream Champions: Full Gallop On ITVX Novices' Limited Handicap Chase off a mark of just 120 and that looks attractive.
Nicky Richards has always thought plenty of Marown but he has been very difficult to keep sound.
Now 11 he has had to overcome several lengthy absences and this is another as he suffered an overreach when last seen in December.
However, that means he can run in the William Hill Vieux Lion Rouge Veterans' Handicap Chase and having less miles in his legs than his rivals might be a bonus.
Cracking Rhapsody is a credit to his connections and despite having to carry top-weight, he may outclass his rivals in the William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle.
Last season he won the Morebattle Hurdle for the second consecutive year off a 13lb higher mark and then bettered that when ending his season with a win in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr with another 5lb on his back.
He has won first time out before and it will be interesting to see how far he can go this season for Ewan Whillans. - Press Association
SELECTIONS:
AINTREE: Race 1 - 14.40 Ernest Gray, Race 2 - 15.15 Jordans Cross, Race 3 - 15.50 Marown, Race 4 - 16.20 Big Ticket, Race 5 - 16.55 IMPERIAL SAINT (NAP), Race 6 - 17.30 Cracking Rhapsody, Race 7 - 18.05 Hey Flint.
FONTWELL: Race 1 - 14.22 Batwomen, Race 2 - 14.57 Galactique, Race 3 - 15.30 Lord Accord, Race 4 - 16.05 Statuario, Race 5 - 16.40 Idaho Sun, Race 6 - 17.15 Leaumec De Mee, Race 7 - 17.47 Hatos, Race 8 - 18.22 Crest Of Valour.
GALWAY: Race 1 - 14.50 Amen Kate, Race 2 - 15.25 Kamikaz Du Plessis, Race 3 - 16.00 Low Style, Race 4 - 16.35 Bal Kauto, Race 5 - 17.05 Welonlyhavedone, Race 6 - 17.38 Frankie John, Race 7 - 18.13 The Nagger Reidy, Race 8 - 18.43 How's Ellie.
WEXFORD: Race 1 - 14.30 Crescent Moon, Race 2 - 15.05 Dark Note, Race 3 - 15.40 Sea Eagle, Race 4 - 16.14 Gin Tonic, Race 5 - 16.47 Getaway Beo, Race 6 - 17.22 Aclass, Race 7 - 17.56 Hitthehayson, Race 8 - 18.30 Lady Lena.