I'm pretty keen to have an investment on the current outsider of the field who is FLASH DE TOUZAINE. It's run in a couple of big races this season and not surprising that it has been amongst the "also rams" but it will have gained some valuable experience and if you look purely at that angle it deserves a very close look. However, the tilting factor for me is the run in the corresponding race last year where it finished 4th off a mark of 122, it runs off 130 here and I wager it has improved as an overall horse since then and I think at the price is well worth a flutter. This is a tough 3 miles and we know it's got the stamina and with question marks about several upped in trip I'm quietly confident of a place at least.

 

Jody Ted, Better Times Ahead and Slipofthetongue all have good form claims over shorter but have to conclusively prove stamina and it's not the easiest track by any means to do that on. Must Be Obeyed too hasn't totally convinced at the trip and has the added issue of a lot of weight and I think has been handicapped out of this off today's mark.

 

Yeah Man for Gavin Cromwell is a 3 mile P2P winner, won a Maiden Hurdle last time and finished 3rd in its sole Handicap Chase, so it lacks experience in a race like this although is clearly a significant danger. Shantreuse for Henry De Bromhead is favourite and has a favourites chance but is not bombproof. Henry also runs PERCY WARNER another with 3 mile P2P winning form but who would have a place chance at best.

 

That's leaves us with Temptationinmilan, Galon De Vauzelle and Brampton Belle who finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd over course and Distance in a prep race for this, Temptationinmilan has to give GALON DE VAUZELLE 7lbs for a short head and BRAMPTON BELLE 13lbs for 8 lengths, in addition BRAMPTON BELLE gets 8lbs for 8 lengths from Galon De Vauzelle, so logically BRAMPTON BELLE should finish upsides Galon De Vauzelle here and a few lengths ahead of Temptationinmilan. I think BRAMPTON BELLE has a bit more scope so he will be 2nd preference with GDV 3rd preference if you want a 3rd pick.