Lucinda Russell won this race in 2017 with a rank outsider but there’s sure to be plenty of interest in THEREISNODOUBT given the manner in which he scored last week at Kelso. Gardener landed a gamble at Leicester on his most recent start and this is his first run in a handicap. Hartur D'oudairies has clearly had issues along the way but he remains lightly raced and that outing at Exeter is sure to have brought him along significanlty. Quick Sharpener is proven on a softer surface having won at Wetherby while Sergeant Wilson impressed on his debut at Taunton though he’s not been able to get his head in front for his new connections.
Thereisnodoubt (IRE) 9-4fav (11-1) Handy, led 1st, hit 3 out, pushed along approaching last, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Kelso 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Beat Box (10-5) by 11l, 7 ran.
Guiri (GER) 80-1 (12-1) Always towards rear, ridden 5 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Hartur D'oudairies (FR) 3-1 (11-6) Towards rear, steady headway before 3 out, mistake 3 out, kept on run-in, no match for winner, 2nd of 11, 7 1/2l behind Djelo (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Quick Sharpener (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on well flat, won at Wetherby 2m (4) sft in Dec beating Royal Mogul (11-7) by 3 1/4l, 17 ran.
Vocal Duke (IRE) 4-1fav (11-2) Towards rear, not fluent and unseated rider 2nd, at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Hold Up La Colmine (FR) 6-5fav (11-4) Led until 1st, prominent, led after 7th, ridden 2 out, headed flat, held towards finish, 3rd of 14, 1 1/4l behind No Tackle (11-4) at Lingfield 2m 3f mdn (4) hvy in Dec.
Gardener (FR) 11-4 (11-0) Made all, ridden and not fluent 2 out, joined flat, ran on, all out, won at Leicester 2m (3) hvy in Dec beating Red Dirt Road (11-6) by nk, 13 ran.
Sergeant Wilson (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Prominent, chased leaders 3 out, soon ridden and no extra, weakened after 2 out, 11th of 13, dist behind Gilbertina (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Chti Balko (FR) 7-2 (12-0) Led, headed 3rd, led again under pressure 3 out, headed before 2 out, jumped right 2 out, kept on same pace thereafter, 4th of 8, 8l behind Sonning (12-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Chapel Green (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, pushed along before 2 out, faded before last, 11th of 14, 14 1/2l behind Dancewiththewind (11-11) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Lunar Jet 22-1 (11-0) In rear, in touch, ridden 3 out, never a factor, 4th of 5, 19 3/4l behind Rare Edition (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gd in Nov.
Henry Box Brown (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway into 4th home turn, led going best 2 out, soon went clear with one other, ridden and headed after last, rallied and led narrowly towards finish, all out, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec beating Staar (10-9) by nk, 13 ran.
Serious Ego (GER) 10-1 (11-13) Towards rear, some headway after 4 out, no impression, mistake and well beaten 3 out, 9th of 17, 25 1/4l behind So Many Roads (11-9) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
