I've narrowed it down to, in racecard order:
Nine De Sivola 157p
According To John 164++
Out the Black 162
Hello Bud 165p
That's Rhythm 156+p
Chiaro 158p
You need to be able to hit 164 on the scale to win a typical renewal so That's Rhythm has probably too much to find, considering one or two of these will run to a higher mark than I've given them. Reluctantly, he's eliminated.
I like the idea of Rhys Flint claiming five on Chiaro. If he's worth his full claim you could arguably add 5 to his figure and I reckon they probably fancy his chances of beating his stablemate so Out The Black is reluctantly left out.
Nine De Sivola has, I suspect, been trained for this one race all year, given that Murphy targets it very seriously. The horse has been in decent form this season but a couple of pounds off its form of late 2007. I reckon that's no coincidence and if the horse has actually improved with age it could win yet again for the yard. However, I can't bring myself to back it to do so at such short odds, so he too is very reluctantly passed over.
My main fancy all week has been Hello Bud. A lot of the talk in the various forums has been that 11yos can't win this race but not many will come into it with Hello Bud's improvement curve.
According To John owes me, although that wouldn't be my reason for backing him. He was a very smart novice a couple of seasons back and showed huge promise first time up this season, having only managed one appearance last year. He never got into it next time at Aintree but that run would be easily explained if this was the target.
1. Hello Bud
2. According To John
3. Chiaro