TATAWOR is a confident choice to land this from Torres Del Paine with Merals Choice the only other worthy of serious consideration. Jim Boyle's gelding looked promising enough in two starts for Marcus Tregoning before switching yards and he confirmed that promise when third last time. That course and distance effort in a more competitive race should have blown away any cobwebs, although he may not need to improve to land this anyway, with Torres Del Paine the main danger. Officially rated 71, Martin Dwyer's mount showed good speed to lead into the final furlong here last time. Today's opposition is certainly no better so if the likely favourite disappoints this would become a straight-forward task for the colt. Merals Choice is a stablemate of our pick and should be monitored closely in the betting, being a newcomer from a shrewd yard. However the filly is not particularly eye-catching on paper and may need further so looks opposable unless the market says otherwise. Best Trip showed next to nothing on debut but might improve for the switch to the Polytrack and is the most interesting of the remainder, with Spring Bridge rated 45 and Apache Moon looking very poor and in need of further. This could easily develop into a match with Tatawor preferred to land the spoils.
Apache Moon 14-1 (8-12) Close up, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 18l behind True Decision (8-5) at Southwell 7f mdn auc stks (6) fbs in Mar.
Spring Bridge (IRE) 100-1 (8-9) Held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 11, 7l behind Peopleton Brook (9-4) at Lingfield 6f Handicap (0-58) (4yo+) (6) pol.
Best Trip (IRE) 40-1 (9-3) With leaders, weakened over 1f out, 14th of 15, 17l behind Adventure Story (8-12) at Doncaster 6f 2yo mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Tatawor (IRE) 5-2fav (8-12) Held up in touch, short of room after 1f, chased leaders over 1f out, not paced to challenge, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Avenuesnalleyways (9-3) at Kempton 6f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol.
Torres Del Paine 22-1 (9-3) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed and no extra final 110 yards, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Passion Overflow (8-12) at Kempton 6f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Merals Choice Night Shift filly out of Mena.
