in touch, ridden approaching 4 out, weakend approaching next, pulled up before last
in rear, struggling from 7th, reminders after 9th, lost place 4 out, pulled up after 3 out
chased leader, not fluent 1st, behind from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led to 5th, mistake 11th, ridden after 3 out, chased winner last, kept on flat, always held
chased leaders, led 5th, headed 11th, ridden approaching 2 out, no extra flat
held up in touch, close up 8th, led 11th, hard ridden run-in, in command towards finish
A toughie for punters, with the vote going to Ebony Light ahead of Hoh Viss. The McCain stable has started to hit some form and the 11-year-old gelding is certainly capable of winning in this grade again. He will have to shoulder a 7lb rise in the weights for his narrow success at Wetherby, however he is still 26lbs below his highest winning mark so is certainly capable. Steven Craine is good value for his claim and is in cracking form at present so his mount gets the nod today. Hoh Viss is an obvious danger however he looked beaten when taking a tumble last time out. He is yet to prove himself over the trip and carrying top-weight on his handicap debut, he must be passed over. King Bee won this race last year and has claims once again from the right end of the weights. He has slipped to the same mark as last year so must rate a live danger. Iris Bleu may need some more help from the handicapper before he can be competitive, whilst the same may apply to Lucinda Russell's Strong Resolve. Your A Gassman completes the lineup but was pulled-up on his last two runs over fences so cannot be fancied today. In a trappy little race, we will return to Ebony Light to continue his trainer's good form.
Hoh Viss 15-8fav (11-4) In touch, outpaced 4 out, 5th and beaten when fell at the 6th in race won by Heltornic (11-1) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs, 7 ran.
Iris Bleu (FR) 6-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden and weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Pass Me By (10-13) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Ebony Light (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) In touch, lost place 7th, headway to lead and jumped right from 9th, hampered approaching 3 out, soon ridden, held on under pressure, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan beating Matmata de Tendron (9-11) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Strong Resolve (IRE) 20-1 (10-4) In touch, lost place halfway, soon struggling, 8th of 9, well behind The Outlier (10-3) at Haydock 3m hcp chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Your A Gassman (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Tailed off from halfway, 7th of 9, well behind Red Scally (10-1) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
King Bee (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led 11th, headed 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 8, well behind Sharp Belline (10-10) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
