A field of 22 and at the top of the market we have El Barra who is very progressive and up 10lbs and whose price reflects the fact it's the choice of Paul Townened from a number of options. It can;t be ignored but I think the yard have far better value elsewhere and PT isn't always right. Fire Attack and Easy Game are similarly progressive and big dangers but this may well be a race for a more experienced proven type with the big field and build up something the less experienced ones may not be used to which can impact on a horse.

 

The Shunter was 4th in this last year and ties in with a few of interest including DARASSO who just missed my final 3 but who is a nice price possibly prepared for the race specifically and off a mark 2 lbs lower than last year. He's definitely worth a shrapnel bet as my first reserve. I think he and The Shunter will again be in the mix.

 

Ash Tree Meadow and Hurricane Georgie are an unexposed pair building up sequences for Gordon Elliott but both have double digit penalties here and for that reason I'll take the hit if either should win.

 

I am most keen on 3 perfectly capable and proven more experienced types who look well handicapped on best form and who have form in this type of race from big Yards.

 

BATTLEOVERDOYEN won over Course and Distance at this Meeting last year and has disappointed in big races since. Its also run at mixed trips and I really do think back here over its last winning trip off a nice mark its been completely overlooked by the market. ANNAMIX also lurks at a big price and has won freshened up off longer breaks than this. A horse who has the ability when it wants to show it and probably the ideal trip for it off a nice mark and not a bad pick for Danny Mullins.  DISCORDANTLY for Jessie also jumps off the page a little. A Course and Distance winner off 132 earlier in its career, has won off a mark of 136 elsewhere and a runner up off a mark of 142, it ticks all the right boxes for me and at the price worth backing for an enhanced price staying on.

 

TRACKERS - Battleoverdoyen / Annamix / Discordantly (shrapnel if you wish on Darasso @33/1)

 

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There wasn;t much here at big prices that caught my eye although it is possible Bal De Rio could outrun very big odds. Low Lie The Fields off a 6 month break for HDB and Rachel could be winning races later on and worth Tracking for sure and Ottoman Style is a progressive ex 3 mile P2P horse who looks as nice a prospect as there is in the race and a shrapnel suggestion if you want an added string to your bow.

 

I can't see beyond ROCK ROAD though for the win and in a race that does lack depth both SHOOT FIRST who is a nice prospect for Cliff Byrnes and SKIPPIN COURT who looks as if the further it goes the better it will get and who hasn't been stopping over 2 and a half miles look solid each way investments.