Edward Austin has ridden SUNNYTAHLIATEIGAN in both recent starts and Ian Williams’ gelding probably need only reproduce the form of his latest second at Sandown to go one better. Smart Boy bolted up at Plumpton in October but was then beaten when odds-on at Chepstow and has gone up 11lb since. Veteran Occasionally Yours is staging something of a revival but hasn’t won off a mark this high in more than six years. Safe Harbour hasn’t run since January but Cornish Warrior might benefit from a drop in class and Cloth Cap could make the frame if in the mood.
Sunnytahliateigan (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, effort to challenge before 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and every chance flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Golan Fortune (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Cloth Cap (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3rd, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 15, 11 1/2l behind Indian Hercules (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Nov.
Smart Boy (IRE) 1-2fav (11-11) Chased leaders, hit 1st, went close 2nd 7th, led 4 out, hit next, ridden before the last, headed run-in, no extra, 2nd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Sydney De Baune (11-1) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Satellite (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Behind, headway when blundered 5 out, soon weakened, 14th of 17, dist behind Steely Addition (11-13) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Occasionally Yours (IRE) 9-4 (10-1) Tracked leader, pressed leader 3 out, led soon after next, ridden out gamely, won at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Nov beating Serenity Now (10-11) by 1 3/4l, 3 ran.
Cornish Warrior (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 2 out, never on terms, weakened flat, 8th of 19, 23 3/4l behind Melrose Boy (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Safe Harbour (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Chased leaders in 4th, jumped right 5th, outpaced in 3rd after 3 out, not fluent when well held next, 3rd of 8, 19 1/4l behind Not Another Muddle (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) sft in Jan.
Cafe Au Lait (GER) 3-1fav (11-1) Held up in rear, driven to chase clear leaders 3 out, soon ridden, never a threat, weakened before last, 7th of 8, 23 1/2l behind Badbad Leroy Brown (11-12) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
River Dun 20-1 (11-9) Pushed along and struggling after 7th, always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Taunton 3m hcp (5) gd in Mar.
