It's going to be a real test of stamina with a deluge yesterday morning and some more showers overnight in Devon.

 

No doubt there are a few progressive types in here; but in such conditions I don't think it'll favour younger legs and certainly no point in bottoming out these types too soon. For that reason I think today a watching brief is best for  Go Whatever; Eden De Houx and Butterwick Brook. All have the profiles to make very nice staying Chasers in Class2 and 3 and dangers for sure, but I'm comfortable to leave them off the tip list today. 

 

Innisfree Lad is an in form horse and very expertly placed I must say to avoid penalties and to optimise handicap mark. Wins off 100 - 104 - 104 and 110 and having run so recently another astute bit of placement today. However, those were C4 / C5 races and I think this will be toughest to date and will certainly doff my cap if it wins again. Le Boizelo is another big danger for Robert Walford, won off a mark of 135 at Wincanton but patchy form wise so despite a very nice mark of 127 niggles about an absolute slog in the mud just put me off today. Tea Time On Mars has Course form and Distance winning form, a winner over the trip at Bangor off 110 up to 114 another whose heavy ground adaptability is questionable. Finally, in this group Telson Barley who will benefot from drop back to 3 miles, runner up here prior to that but another whose best form seems to be on better Going. I'm a bit of a hostage to fortune with Going on all of those named so far if it's NOT heavy Going, but that's the risk you take and I know for sure how much rain we've had down here.

 

That leaves me with 4 of note that I'm most interested in. I think CALTEX is one who could outrun Odds a nice win over 2 miles 6 furlongs at Leicester on heavy, not really had that ground since and had 2 runs so should be fit. The mark of 125 just put me off on current form but if it ran a big race at big Odds would be no surprise. I'll nominate it as rserve if either of these don't run.

 

The TIP is Cobolobo, tipped last time when runner up to Crossley Tender and will come on for that run when it was runner up. It gets a 7lbs pull for a length and a half and in these conditions with the run under its belt should be in front by a considerable margin on collateral form. It has no stamina issues, has won on the "heavy" of Chepstow and Ffos Llas, no need to say more about those Courses when heavy, so all in all for a horse who can be inconsistent, really no excuses today if it turns up it has to go very close with luck in running.

 

I can't leave out ARTHURS GIFT for Twiston-Davies, needed seasonal debut, back to its win mark of 130, proven in the mud and has proved excess stamina beyond 3 miles in longer distance races a few times. No excuse with luck in running if its not staying on up the hill. The same applies to OCEAN COVE for Fergal and Paddy, no better allies in a long distance Chase in the mud and despite top weight looks well handicapped here. Runner up off 135 over Course and Distance in February, runs off 130 here after a couple of warm up runs. If you want to play one of those pair they are in preference order.

 

 

One to note at a big price may be CLONDAWS ANSWER and one to track on after today. I can't split BLUE MONDAY and TUDORS TREASURE here but apart from Indian Harbour, I find it hard to see them not placing at least with a clear round and luck in running, so I will have a Tracker perm on both against the field for some net profit.

 

 

I looked at the 3.50 and think Woolacotts pair (Goodgirltheresa and Dorrana) can outrun Odds but the top 3-4 in the market look strong, so if I've had a good day I'll put a bit of loose change on the 2 named.