held up in touch, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
led, ridden and headed after 4 out, weakened 3 out
mid-division, ridden 3 out, one pace
held up behind, headway after 4 out, ridden and led 3 out, ran on gamely under pressure from last
towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression
chased leader, led after 4th, ridden and headed 3 out, kept on one pace
in touch, jumped left 3rd, ridden and headway 3 out, every chance last, kept on, not pace of winner flat
Or Bleu and Oh Crick are progressing well but Spectait is possibly the horse in the field with the most potential and we'll take a chance with him. The negatives are his stable's form and that we could get carried away by his reputation rather than his achievements. A smart handicapper on the Flat, he was a warm order on his hurdling bow and came from last to first under a cool ride to land the odds. The bare form is nothing out of the ordinary and he failed to run to form at Cheltenham next time. However, he still has an entry in the Supreme Novices' and we'll give him another chance. Or Bleu battled on gamely to get the better of Van Galen at Newbury and clearly doesn't lack resolve although he may not have much of a turn of foot. Oh Crick has improved with each start and his narrow successes have meant that the increments in his handicap mark have only been small; both could still be ahead of the game. Market support for long-term absentee Call Oscar would bring him into the equation but we'll take Spectait to get us off to a winning start.
Silencio (IRE) 5-1fav (11-2) In touch, reminders approaching 8th, weakened 3 out, 10th of 17, 31l behind Salut Saint Cloud (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Stumped 33-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 8th of 13, 31l behind Five Dream (10-6) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) sft in Jan.
Ned Ludd (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Prominent, led after 7th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 11, 15l behind Hoh Viss (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) hvy in Jan.
Oh Crick (FR) 4-1 (11-8) Held up, headway 4th, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Jan beating Top Ram (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Spectait 9-2 (11-7) Not fluent, took keen hold, held up in rear, weakened after 3 out, 8th of 9, well behind I'msingingtheblues (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Nov.
Or Bleu (FR) 2-1fav (11-4) Made all, not fluent 2nd, hit 3rd, joined briefly 2 out, driven out, won at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Von Galen (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Call Oscar (IRE) 85-40fav (11-3) Led to 2nd, led again 4th, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb '06 beating Unjust Law (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
