Held up in 4th, chased front pair after 5 out, went 2nd next, driven to challenge after 3 out, every chance last, ridden flat, kept on towards finish, just held op 3/1 tchd 9/4
In rear, reminder after 8th, struggling 5 out, late headway before last, stayed on to dispute modest 3rd flat, no chance with leaders op 20/1 tchd 11/1
Pekanheim (1/1), Treat Yourself (5/2), Gin Cobbler (15/2), The Ice Factor (8/1), Daydream Island (14/1)
With the greatest of respect to connections, this is far from a strong handicap chase. Treat Yourself is the interesting horse in the race having plummeted in the weights since moving from Ireland, and he looks primed to run a big race on this better ground. However, whilst he adores Hexham, it's impossible to overlook GIN COBBLER with the suspicion that he's more than capable of running these under-performing rivals ragged from the front if gifted a soft lead. In such a poor race he's worth chancing.
1. Gin Cobbler
2. Treat Yourself
3. Pekanheim