A competitive field with 3 reserves one of which is very near the head of the market. A race we found the winner of last year and prior to that so we'll see if we can find something again at a nice each way price with plenty of enhanced places to attack too.

 

Greenhill Damsel is second reserve and with nothing yet coming out will need a stroke of luck to get in and even if it does I'd have concerns about the trip. The same applies to Roped In and also at the top end of the market both China Princess and Salamino are upped in trip. All have solid form claims and will be major dangers but at the prices and with others with proven stamina, I'm happy to take them on.

 

Cushinstown Forest is a Course winner, runs off what could be an incredibly lenient Hurdle mark in its first Hurdle run for 2 years but on balance of its old Hurdles form it would be a great Training performance to transition Codes so quickly and effectively. Kingston Kid is a progressive young horse, is a big danger but off a handicap mark going northwards may just now be in the grip of the handicapper. Excelsion for Elliott will have plenty of support and looks progressive but is another one that has to conclusively prove stamina in a true run race at this trip, a sure future winner though you feel but hopefully not today/

 

Hymie Weiss has caught my eye and attention a few times and is actually one that could benefit from the step up in trip and just (only just) missed the short list for an investment and would be my reserve pick. The same would apply to the consistent Nicoles Milan who should run a decent race again, may nick an enhanced place but I feel just suffering now with the handicapper for its consistency.

 

My 3 against the field and ones I'm happy to invest in are in order of preference , CALL ME FREDDIE, CHELSEAS FRIEND and GLENABO BRIDGE.

 

CALL ME FREDDIE is a solid contender, ticks all the right boxes in terms of stamina and handicap mark and with no rain about will enjoy the drying ground on a sunny is cold day. CHELSEAS FRIEND is a 3 mile P2P winner who has won its last 2 runs under Rules at this trip off marks of 81 and 86 and frankly i think been crying out for a return back to 3 miles plus, Rachel Blackmore certainly won't be a negative in the saddle and although it runs off a mark 5lbs above last winning mark at the trip, I think that's surmountable.

 

GLENABO BRIDGE won this for us last season off a mark of 93, runs off a mark of 91 here, its last run was disappointing but if we look at prior runs this season a very similar pattern to last year and I think it can run an enhanced place at least off a nice Handicap mark.

TRACKERS - Call Me Freddie + Chelseas Friend - shrapnel - Glenabo Bridge (reserve Hymie Weiss)