IN SUMMARY: WOOD YER (8/1 Each Way) will appreciate the return to much softer ground on this slight step up in trip. Krackatoa King is a ridiculously short priced favourite given that he doesn’t do anything quickly nor does he find it easy to get his head in front. Bears Rails is well capable of winning this if on a going day but it’s a bit of a guessing game predicting when those will be.
1 ZEPHYROS BLEU – Sole win came over three miles on heavy ground at Ffos Las. These conditions should be no issue to him but he has been beaten out of sight the last twice so has to be treated with a degree of caution for now.
2 KRACKATOA KING – Doesn’t do anything quickly, but he is a dour stayer who will relish this trip in heavy ground. Placed from slightly higher marks last season, he is entitled to come on for his return at Wetherby where he lacked the pace of the winner. Should be thereabouts., but is a very short price for a horse who finds it hard to win.
3 RIGADIN DU BEAUCHENE – Old timer who has his conditions, eight pounds below his last winning mark. That came almost two years ago now, running with credit in the face of some tough tasks last season. Very well treated on his best, but hard to trust completely given the lack of consistency in this career, even more so now rising thirteen.
4 BEARS RAILS – Picked up a success from three pounds lower at Fontwell last year, not in the same parish since. Pulled up on his return to action last month, he is tough to support with any confidence, despite being well capable of winning this if on a going day.
5 WOOD YER – Another dour stayer, he was twice placed over 3m 4f or further last season on heavy and soft ground. He is another who was pulled up on his seasonal return, though a shorter trip on good ground would have been no use to him. Well capable from this mark, he looks worth supporting.
6 HANDSUPFORDETROIT – Not an easy horse to win with, but three miles on deep ground are his ideal conditions. Disappointing on his return to action over this course and distance just over a week ago, needs to have come on plenty in a short period of time if he is to make an impact.