JIBBER JABBER

MAX VEGA finished 3rd in this last year and won it the year before so looks over-priced at 25/1. His record over C&D reads 21713 and, other than his age running against younger legs, I can't see why he should be nearly as big as 25/1 sent off last year at 4/1 & 9/2 the year before. He was beat on Soft last year while the official Good to Soft here with drying conditions at the track looks ideal. Al Qareem may need the run so my concerns are the two at the head of the market. They are Arrest (13/8) & Hamish (7/2) and they are two very good horses. However, Max Vega has a fitness advantage on them having been running on the All-Weather all Winter while they both return from 5-7 month breaks. The selection also ran to near his very best two starts back in February winning a Class 2 handicap at Wolverhampton while running to a RPR of 114. Could go well.

WHISTLEINTHEDARK has dropped 6lb down the weights back to his last winning mark. He will also be approaching peak fitness on his fifth start back and the Laura Morgan yard is in top form (Last 14 days: 2-5, 40%). He hasn't done too much in those four starts other than run to a career best RPR of 146 when 4th of 11 at Doncaster 3 starts back in December. I like the first-time booking of the excellent Danny McMenamin (Last 5 years: 194-1471, 13% SR) who is having a rare ride for the yard (just his fourth in the past 5 years). The main concern is the opposition but also whether he will stay the 4-mile trip at the first attempt. The honest answer is, "I don't know" but this is quite nornal when backing a National horse as these "marathon" distances are very rarely run. I can tell you he stays 3-mile fine and can be seen running-on through the line over that trip. All things considered, I think you could back much 100/1 shots than this with plenty of tick marks in his favour (weight. trainer form, jockey booking, Going, track form, fitness).