A tight market at the top end with 3-4 horses all around 5/1 of lower.

 

It may well turn out to be a market leaders race but I want to take on Karens Gift, a horse who was unlucky last time when saddle slipped, and has 3 mile P2P and 2 mile Hurdles form but one about whom I have no conviction or confidence. Optum has an obvious chance last run, one I'll take on with a glance back at past form showing it has failed to follow up a nice run before and may be one to catch "just right". Sullane Hill is a C and D (not CD) winner too, easy winner last time, up 7lbs but has failed to follow up visually easy wins off a penalty before in its career.

 

In A Pinch has a good chance on the form book but may be more suited by summer jumping ground and TIKKANEN EXPRESS came very close to being a selection, is effectively reserve in event of a non runner here in terms of my tips, C and Distance winner (not CD), more a Chaser these days but on a nice Hurdles mark, fine of soft and one who could try to make all off the front. 

 

My sporting selections are FOU DILIGENCE who needed seasonal debut and had a good blow over further, running well to this kind of trip. Good form in soft and off a nice mark if now fully tuned up and one to keep an eye on if not obliging today too. ROOM TO ROAM was a runner up at Galway over just short of this trip on soft Going off a mark of 110, that's solid handicap form and a comfortable mark and therefore a mark today of 111 with a good 5lbs Claimer booked means it's primed to run a big race with the handicapper giving it a decent chance.

 

TRACKERS - Room to Roam + Fou Diligence (reserve Tikkanen Express)