This is a competitive little race with 14 runners so some enhanced place value in a few places.

 

A couple of horses dominate the market at very short prices but with Leac An Scail Lady running poorly last time and Mica Malpic unseating when coming to win but after some sketchy jumping, I'm happy to take both on and if the prices remain so short I don't think a reverse f/cast is much actual value either.

 

I'M NOT ALONE is pretty solid off marks around 85-88 and is probably the each way banker if you want to play that Card. Malina Girl looks to be running in to form but the trip is a niggle, Secret Cargo was a fortuitous winner last time, should run well again but the penalty may just stop it, Father jed looks a little high in the handicap to me and Bolbec who has shown glimmers of form over shorter has to prove it gets the trip too but may be one to track forwards is it shows any sign of further improvement.

 

At big Odds both Castalita, who would be well handicapped over these fences based on Chase form but whose few tries over fences don't offer much encouragement as yet and especially THINK POSITIVE whose best recent career run was over fences here off a mark of 97 here a year ago and who gets in off 88 for Phil Rothwell should both outrun their odds and I think THINK POSITIVE is worthy of an "exchange £1 win / place bet".

 

My pair against the field though are AVEC ESPOIR who despite top weight here has shown in good runs here and at Wexford that on the right course it has ability, t hosed up here off a mark of 90 and done enough to suggest 98 is a decent mark. BUTTONS AND BOWS popped up to win off a mark of 97 last Autumn in good ground conditions and back off a mark of 101 with a decent 4lbs Claimer is coming back in to a good range in terms of its mark.

 

TRACKER - Avec Espoir / Shrapnel - Buttons And Bows - (exchange bet - Think Positive)