Another competitive handicap in which seven of the eight runners hold sounds claims after recent efforts and two are chasing hat-tricks, along with top-weight Izita Star looking for an impressive four-timer.
Izita Star arrives here in the form of her life after hacking up in her first handicap at Haydock less than two weeks ago. She has gone up another 13lbs in the weights but it would be unwise to rule out further improvement as she goes for another win under Tom Scudamore. After two wins in minor company, the six-year-old was up in grade but she took it in her stride as she travelled easily through the race and took up the running over the final hurdle and bounded away to nine lengths success. The better ground has brought about this progression for Annabelle King's mare and with fast ground forecast, she looks likely to give a bold show. She may well move up the ladder yet again but she must shoulder 11st 12lbs against some useful opponents so it will be a most impressive performance if she is to win again.
Oceana Gold is an interesting runner for the Emma Lavelle stable. He is still relatively inexperienced over hurdles having been a useful Flat performer for Andrew Balding. After making an impressive hurdles debut, where he won by 13 lengths, he has struggled slightly, possibly down to the soft ground throughout the winter. Two starts back he was well fancied but was comprehensively beaten by an high-class horse, who has since gone on to run well in top novice company. Oceana Gold looks likely to appreciate the return to a faster surface and may find the improvement to regain the winning thread. Jack Doyle is a useful claiming jockey but will need to settle his mount and preserve his stamina for the business end of the race. This five-year-old has something to find with Izita Star but looks sure to make a race of it.
Little Lu represents Alan Swinbank and Brian Hughes and should have come on for her recent appearance at Aintree. She was most progressive over hurdles last year around this distance and is a major player if she can return to that form. She came to hand around this time last year and won four races during the summer, all under today's jockey and this fast ground will seriously improve her chances. She went up the weights considerably last season and may want the handicapper to relent slightly, though she could find the necessary progression to make the frame, at least.
Petrosian is on for the hat-trick having won comfortably in selling company last time out. He will need to improve on that form if he is to trouble the market leaders but like so many others, this ground may be the difference. He is running off a mark of 111 and has been forced up in grade and may struggle to match strides with horses further up the weights. Rockiteer is another looking to win his third race on the spin and could go well for the in-form Henry Daly team. He won last time out at Taunton over 2m 4f and relished the fast ground so today's conditions will suit this six-year-old, who may attempt to make all under Andrew Tinkler.
Selections: 1st - Izita Star, 2nd - Oceana Gold, 3rd - Little Lu.
Result - 1st - Ellerslie Tom, 9/2, 2nd - Oceana Gold, 3/1 jf, 3rd - Sonic Anthem, 33/1.
Ellerslie Tom had been in poor form coming into the race but found conditions ideal and he won readily for Alison Thorpe and Daryl Jacob. He was well supported in the market before the off and beat off Oceana Gold by two lengths. The winner made all the running and gradually wound up the pace before kicking on and securing the win. If in this form next time, he could well win again. Oceana Gold travelled beautifully throughout but just failed to peg back the leader but finished a long way clear of third. Sonic Anthem belied his large odds and kept on for third ahead of Izita Star. Izita Star struggled under her big weight and it looks as if the handicapper may have her measure as she had every chance two out before weakening towards the finish. Little Lu lacked fluency over her hurdles and Rockiteer put in a rather laboured effort throughout. Petrosian ran poorly and hit too many obstacles to play a part.
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