There will be a lot of focus on the top of the market and a lot of analysis of the merits of totally different Irish and British formlines. So over to Ian and Sean to assess the relevant merits.

 

Third Time Lucki is a talking horse for the Skeltons but at the price I think that the value has gone in what is likely to be an absolute cavalry charge with lots of hard luck stories. Fifty Ball for Gary Moore has a lot of market support but for me the sum parts don't add up and a better British hope I think is the Twiston-Davies horse GOWEL ROAD who has finished full of running in victory and looks to be one that could love the hill. I also think that amongst the other British runners that Alan KIng, who has had a quiet week, could have a live outsider in EDWARDSTONE, 6th in the 2020 Supreme Novices, a quiet season no doubt building for this but a 7 length defeat by The Shunter giving that horse a stone no less on the OLd Course before Christmas is a bit eye catching now, and this more galloping track could really suit it.

 

Of the Irish contingent there are numerous ones with chances, Champagne Gold and Eclair De Beaufeu are the market principles and both have excellent claims and like Drop The Anchor, who gets a big mark hike, came of the Irish Ladbroke. However if you look past Drop The Achor who won and Champagne Gold who was runner up and above Eclair De Beaufeu you'll find SAINT D'OROUX it gets a 13lb pull with DTA for 6 lengths and 6lbs for 6 lengths with Champagne Gold and is actually better off with Eclair De Beaufeu who it beat. It was 3rd in the 2020 Boodles here so handles the Track and at 25-28/1 just seems to have been missed by the market totally, so far!!!

 

The stable also run the Class horse of the race in PETITE MOUCHOIR 5th in last years Champion Hurdle, and gets a handy Claim and looks ridiculous value at 25/1.

 

I'm going to take on the Irsih market principles with those pair and have a nagging suspicion to the BUILDMEUPBUTTERCUP could outrun Odds if you want some shrapnel on that with stable mate Ciel De Neige another who could outrun Odds on a Going day but one who can just fade very quickly.

 

TRACKERS - Saint D'Oroux + Petite Mouchoir (Sean) / Gowel Road and Edwardstone (Ian) - shrapnel - Buildmeupbuttercup