Evelith Forrest gets the confident selection here ahead of Heir To Be. Phillip Hobbs' gelding appreciated the step up in trip when hammering the opposition last time out, and whilst he drops back just slightly in trip today, he looks to have every chance of following up. His handicap mark doesn't appear to be too prohibitive and he looks very much the one to be on. Heir To Be is a course and distance winner so must be accorded some respect, although his form is slightly patchy. However, if putting his best foot forward he could go close. Methodical is consistent and his second last time out reads fairly well in the context of this race, whilst is fairly unexposed and if handling the conditions could be in the money. However, Evelith Forrest looks a horse with a future and as one assured to stay the trip, he can go in again.
Heir To Be 25-1 (10-11) In touch, ridden and hit 3 out, weakened approaching next, 5th of 21, 18l behind Karanja (11-1) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Evelith Forrest 15-8fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, steady headway after 8th, led after 2 out, clear last, won at Folkestone 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft beating Leading Authority (10-12) by 9l, 10 ran.
Columbus (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Towards rear and keen, ridden and headway after 10th, weakened 2 out, 8th of 15, 29l behind Before Dark (11-0) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft.
Gilo 25-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, ridden approaching 5th, soon weakened, 10th of 18, 28l behind Thirty Five Black (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Green 'n' Gold 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Vicario (11-10) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy.
Hillcrest (NZ) 16-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, led soon after 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 18, 2l behind Fleetwood Forest (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Methodical 8-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on well, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Fleetwood Forest (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Fabrezan (FR) 20-1 (11-8) With leader, led 7th, ridden and headed 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 15, 33l behind My Lady Link (10-13) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Jun '05.
