The field may not be as competitive as it looks with the veteran Garde La Victoire perhaps the only one at a price who might hunt round and oblige but fear is that it could be taken off its legs early and this track doesn't suit that style of running unless they go too fast and fall in to a heap.

 

Romain De Senam holds strong claims for the Skeltons but having been Bought Down last time may just need this and together with Cool Mix who was 3rd in this in 2019 and who may not have much leniency off this handicap mark, look solid and dangers to the selection.

 

It's between Schiehallion Munro who is solid and dependable and may have been unlucky last time and RED RISK who ran better than final position suggests in a much tougher Ascot race on Going that was far softer than Going implies last time, for me. The fact Micky Hammond takes the Hood off SM swings it and I think the Nicholls horse will find this race a fair bit easier and less deep than last time and is a confident tip on that basis.

 

 

A competitive finale and Court Baloo who has winning form in a lower Grade and Arnica for the Alexander team whose best run was over an extended trip last time should run well here. Bullion Boss, an ex 7 furlong Flat horse sprang to life over this last time and if you take that at face value holds a great chance but i think that could be labelled "fluke" by the end of this race and will take that risk, as it did really come out of nowhere in terms of known form and pedigree.

 

The trip is a niggle for Oscar Clouds and whilst a strong favourite WHISKEY LULLABY for the Nicholls team looks too short for my liking unless you want a win saver. Better value i think lies in MIDNIGHT AURORA for the Skeltons, who won at Huntingdon at this trip last year, kept to shorter since, a very similar tight right handed easy track here and a mark of 92 tips it for me.

 

At bigger odds and with 14 runners and place enhancements to 4th....I think the real value of the whole Card could lie with TOKARAMORE who is interesting on a few runs and whose prominent style of running could see it last out in to an enhanced place and A LADIES MILAN, bought quietly along by Lucinda Russell best form around a mark of 90 on Good Going at the trip, OK on soft and a mark of 86 with a 3 lbs Claimer looks a tad overpriced to me.