the likelihood of softening conditions, and as it is a race for amateurs, the differing abilities of those in the saddle.

I narrowed it down to 4 horses and whilst I think Astrum is a danger it is hard to quantify Irish form. Claude Carter

is a grand old servant, but his figures indicate he is regressing at 13 and he has always been better on Good Going

than rain softened surfaces. There are a couple of "old favourites" who are in decent form, well handicapped, don't

mind Good to Soft or even Soft, and who have Course form and decent pilots. Both will "pop up" in this type of race

and will give us a decent run for our money at nice odds, around 16/1 each and I suggest 1/2 point each way on both.