chased leader, ridden and weakened 5th, behind
led to 4th, chased leader, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, ridden and chased clear winner 3 out, one-paced
prominent, led 4th, soon clear, unchallenged
The Gene Genie gets our vote here. A distance winner with plenty of course experience, and rested since a good performance at Wincanton in November. He's regularly in the first three, he's fancied off this weight and his jockey has been in winning form this month. Intox III is one half of a Martin Pipe-trained duo in the race. This six-year-old was quite a consistent performer, who has struggled to find form so far this season. However he was beaten just two lengths by Lussino over course and distance in January and cannot be ruled out on his return. His stablemate Valfonic enjoyed a purple patch over hurdles in the Spring, winning three straight starts. Although he struggled last time out, finishing a well-beaten sixth, he also cannot be discounted. Megazine recently won on heavy ground at Newton Abbot, but although he'll relish the ground, he should find the competition a lot tougher. While we cannot see No Visibility making the frame: after 10 starts over hurdles, he still hasn't managed to make the frame, and was just as poor last time out at Exeter.
