DUBAI GUEST easily won a soft-ground bumper at Musselburgh on his second career start. There is a good chance he’ll handle a switch to hurdles and ground conditions so he gets the nod ahead of Conkwell Legend, who has wind surgery since a third at Uttoxeter in February on heavy going. Loughan should also figure if a run at Carlisle has blown away a few cobwebs as he placed at Huntingdon and Hereford last season.
Baignard (FR) 6-1 (12-0) (h) trckd ldrs til wknd 3 out, 3rd of 11, 25l behind Revels Hill (11-7) at Badbury Rings 3m mdn sft in Feb.
Ballydoyle (GER) 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders on inside, ridden 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 16, 2 3/4l behind Cheng Gong (10-13) at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (6) sft in Oct.
Cheng Gong 17-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5f out, led over 3f out, clear when ridden and hung left 2f out, all out, won at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (6) sft in Oct beating Azor Ahai (10-9) by nk, 16 ran.
Conkwell Legend 12-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, progress when hit 3 out, soon ridden, one pace when not fluent last, 3rd of 11, 7 1/4l behind Darsi In The Park (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) hvy in Feb.
Dubai Guest (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Made all and set steady pace, jinked left on bend 10f out, shaken up and came readily clear over 1f out, ran on strongly, unchallenged, won at Musselburgh 2m (4) sft in Feb beating Isle Of Aron (10-7) by 6l, 4 ran.
Loughan (IRE) 3-1fav (10-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, mistake 6th, soon short of room, headway 3 out, no impression on leaders, went 4th 2 out until flat, 6th of 10, 22 1/4l behind Mackenberg (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) gd in Oct.
Mongol Emperor (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Just worse than midfield, not fluent 3 out, ridden 2 out, weakened before next, 7th of 12, 32 1/4l behind Third Time Lucki (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m (4) gs in Oct.
Honest Oscar (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Pr early, 4th 1/2way, prog to 3rd aftr 4out, rdn to close 3out, chall into str but no ex, ko, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Rose Of Arcadia (11-11) at Tattersalls 3m mdn Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Sa Alors (FR) 50-1 (10-9) In touch, outpaced 3 out, weakened after 2 out, tailed off, 9th of 12, dist behind The Bull Mccabe (11-2) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn (4) gd in Oct.
