Chapel Flowers has suggested that this mark of 107 may not be beyond him however PRINCE TAM has the best form at two miles and he is preferred to Dar Es Salaam. The selection was third to Blacks Bridge last month at Newcastle and that was a step up on previous chase efforts. He has been dropped 3lbs in the weights for that run however and he looks to have been found a good opportunity to break his duck. Giant Star and Emotive may both be capable of better now tackling fences, whilst Viel Gluck drops massively in trip today and needs a market check as his trainer is very hard to predict. Dar Es Salaam acted like a monkey at the start of his latest race, unseating Wilson Renwick at the start. If he is better behaved today then this decent flat horse should run well, with his beating of Persian Prince at Musselburgh looking solid. Whilst he should have no problem with the drop in trip, the same cannot be said of Ballabrook who has looked one-paced and threw in a shocker last time out at Mussulburgh and he may need rain. Chapel Flowers should like the ground if it stays quick as forecast, however, he was very well placed last year and might just be struggling off his current mark, although Richard Johnson is back on board (two wins from three rides) which is a bonus. Not an easy puzzle to solve but Prince Tam is preferred.
Chapel Flowers (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Held up mid-division, prominent when fell 10th, in a race won by Silver Dollars (10-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 11 ran.
Ballabrook (IRE) 3-1fav (11-6) Held up towards rear, slow 2nd, headway halfway, soon no impression, 7th of 12, well behind Quito Du Tresor (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Jan.
Dar Es Salaam 15-2 (11-6) Hampered and unseated rider start, in a race won by Silver Dollars (10-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 11 ran.
Viel Gluck (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) In rear, hit and outpaced 16th, weakening when mistake 5 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Vforvictory (11-0) at Sedgefield 3m 3f mdn chs (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Emotive 8-1 (10-13) Held up, headway 4th, ridden 2 out, jumped right last, 5th of 11, 8l behind Amir Pasha (11-1) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 3yo+ (5) gs in Dec.
Prince Tam 10-1 (10-2) Tracked leading pair, effort and every chance 4 out, ridden next, soon outpaced, left 3rd last, no impression, 3rd of 6, 11l behind Blacks Bridge (11-3) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Giant Star (USA) 16-1 (9-12) Held up, weakened from 5th, 14th of 20, well behind Shadrack (10-6) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Jan.
