A poor turnout for this contest and one that should present BORROWADDY with a straightforward task ahead of Is It Me and Texas Holdem. Gordon Elliott's son of Presenting hasn¿t been seen since landing a handicap hurdle in April but won first time up under rules and so shouldn't be beaten for a lack of fitness here. Two and a half miles looks to be the right trip for this gelding who cruised into contention when winning over further last time and with the ground also of no concern it just seems a question of whether he takes to fences at the first time of asking. Sure to have been well schooled at home and with the ultra-confident Jason Maguire aboard, this six-year-old is a confident choice in a race where meaningful opposition is short in supply. By far the biggest threat to our selection comes from Is It Me, a 135-rated hurdler who had some decent yardsticks behind when no match for a promising sort last time. With that chasing experience in the bag and ground conditions likely to suit this gelding represents a reasonable benchmark from which the form can be judged but we feel he'll need to improve for today's longer trip if there¿s to be an upset and with that considerably doubtful this reasonably consistent sort is passed over. Texas Holdem has plenty to find with the market principles on hurdles form and his one chase appearance resulted in comprehensive defeat so it remains to be seen whether the ten-year-old can match his career best rating of 125 over the smaller obstacles now tackling fences once more. That said today's trip won't pose any sort of problem and his proven stamina may expose any such flaws in the likely second favourite so it isn't impossible that this one could fill the forecast spot behind our pick. Ellandshe has finished no better than third in twelve attempts over fences and despite a point-to-point victory this one looks very modest and will surely find this an impossible task so we return to Borrowaddy who gets our confident vote.
Borrowaddy (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Held up in rear, some headway approaching 5 out, went 5th travelling well 3 out, 2nd 2 out, cruised to the front at last, ridden out close home, won at Kilbeggan 3m hcp hdl 0-116 gs in Apr beating The Bay Lad (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Ellandshe (IRE) 100-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, pushed along and weakened from 5 out, 3rd of 4, 50l behind Knockara Beau (11-9) at Kelso 2m 6f nov chs (2) sft.
Is It Me (USA) 14-1 (11-1) Led to 2nd, chased winner, jumped left 4th and 5th, lost 2nd approaching 4 out, regained that position 3 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 12l behind First Point (11-1) at Ludlow 2m beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Texas Holdem (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression, 4th of 15, 36l behind Viper (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Dec '08.
