Smart Boy Prince seemed not to handle the cut in the ground when pulled up at Leicester last month and may be best watched under the burden of top weight so preference is for Emmasflora, who gets the vote ahead of Michaels Dream. The last mentioned beat the selection in May of last year but has disappointed since then and is hard to back with confidence on recent evidence. Heavy Weather is less exposed than most of these and cannot be discounted in a race that should not take a great deal of winning, while Marsh Run is on a long losing sequence and remains plenty high enough in the weights. The vote then goes to Emmasflora who has been given a break since last seen when highly tried over fences behind Howle Hill. Back over hurdles today, with conditions to suit, Emmasflora looks the percentage call in an uncompetitive event.
Smart Boy Prince (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, weakened after 7th, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Burntoakboy (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan, 10 ran.
Michaels Dream (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Chased leaders early, lost place approaching 5th, tailed off from next, 9th of 13, 36l behind Our Jasper (10-3) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Fourboystoy (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, hit 9th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Only Vintage (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
General Duroc (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 4th, headed 4 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, well behind Top Cloud (11-7) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Emmasflora 50-1 (10-6) With leader until fell in race won by Howle Hill (11-10) at Warwick 2m nov chs (3) gd in Oct, 7 ran.
Heavy Weather (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Knighton Lad (11-9) at Newbury 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan, 15 ran.
Marsh Run 25-1 (10-13) Led to 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 10, well behind Burntoakboy (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan.
Park Quest (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened 3 out, beaten when pulled up 4 out in race won by Whitford Don (11-1) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy, 16 ran.
