took keen hold early, held up in last, left 3rd 13th, left behind approaching 4 out, mistake 3 out
fell 1st
pressed leader, led 6th until 7th, led next, mistake and unseated rider 13th
tracked leading pair, left close 2nd 13th, no impression from 2 out
led until 6th, led next until 8th, left in lead 13th, came clear from 2 out, comfortably
Formerly with Charlie Mann, WATAMU BAY ran encouragingly on his first start since joining Paul Nicholls when finding Balthazar King just a half length too good on his chasing debut at Chepstow last month and he can go one better today with the main danger looking to be Voramar Two. The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding was rated to a similar level to the selection over hurdles and has solid claims but lacks any chasing experience and may have to settle for minor honours. Evan Williams has his string in good heart so recent Fontwell third, Plunkett, has to be considered and he makes more appeal than Nick Gifford's reappearing Theophrastus. Victory Parade, from the in-form Rebecca Curtis stable, completes the quintet and has claims on the pick of his form but will need to perform better than when pulled up on his reappearance here last week.
Plunkett (IRE) 5-2 (11-3) Held up in last pair went 3rd 8th, about 3 lengths 3rd and looked held when blundered badly last, not recover, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Fruity O'Rooney (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Theophrastus (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Close up, jumped right 3rd and 6th, led 4 out, headed approaching last, rallied run-in, just held for 2nd close home, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Keel Road (10-8) at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) sft in Oct.
Victory Parade (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Prominent, mistake 7th, pulled up before 11th (tack problems), in a race won by Iconoclast (11-8) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs, 9 ran.
Voramar Two 7-1 (11-4) Mid-division on outside, lost place when mistake 6th, reminder after next, weakened quickly and pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Wayward Prince (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Watamu Bay (IRE) Evensfav (10-12) Jumped right, pressed leader until after 4th, went 2nd again after 7th, challenged and went right 3 out, soon ridden, about 1 length down when slight peck last, kept on flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Balthazar King (11-4) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (3) gs in Oct.
