Attitash was entered in the 3.30 here yesterday. Pats Choice has placed in six of his nine chase starts and been quite highly tried since scoring at Wexford in June but could be up against a couple of useful recruits to the chasing ranks in SNAKE ROLL and Idalko Bihoue. Placed in Grade 2 and Listed races over hurdles, Lucinda Russell’s six-year-old gets the nod even though his likely market rival won between the flags and was third in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle over timber last season.
Idalko Bihoue (FR) 10-3 (11-8) Led 1st, headed after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, last of 5, 18l behind Hugos New Horse (11-12) at Ayr 2m 4f (3) gs in Apr.
Snake Roll (IRE) 4-7fav (11-2) Pressed leader, jumped right and bumped into rival 2nd, challenged 2 out, led before last, hung right and headed flat, led close home, headed post, 2nd of 6, shd behind Caius Marcius (10-13) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Pats Choice (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Rear of mid-division, 10th 2 out, ridden in 8th at last, 6th entering straight, kept on without threatening in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 15 1/2l behind Fighting Fit (10-0) at Galway 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Aug.
Attitash (IRE) 15-2 (10-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along and dropped to 5th from 2 out, ridden and no impression from last, kept on same pace run-in, 5th of 9, 9 3/4l behind Gwan Tadhg (11-8) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp sft in Sep.
