Top pick: #5 (MORAN GRA) (4-1) - This is one of three Speeplechase races on this afternoon's card. Irish import had a nice career in Ireland racing on the grass and finished third at Aiken, South Carolina in his chase debut last October. Veteran is in a top barn (Cyril Murphy) and races with Lasix for the first time. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #1 (Umbraggio) (7-2) - Speedy sort is another who had some success racing on the turf and appears to be learning the jump game bit by bit. Last out he ran second at the Malvern Hunt races and this gelding by "Aldebaran" should be involved from start-to-finish.
3rd pick: #4 (All the Way Jose) (2-1) - Lightly-raced gelding comes off a "head" defeat at the annual Memorial Day meet at Fair Hill. That sharp effort was off a half-year's absence and Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard has him set for a big race.
4th pick: #2 (Papriformer) (15-1) - Beautifully bred colt tired badly at Fair Hill in the same last race as "Jose." It was his first since early Sep, first in North America, and first over jumps. Blinkers go on and this son of "Dynaformer" may impact at a big price.