chased leader, ridden 9th, ridden and chased winner approaching 4 out, kept on one pace from 3 out
in touch, ridden and chased winner approaching 4 out, one pace from 3 out
made all, ridden 4 out, kept on gamely from 2 out, pushed out from last
prominent, blundered badly 11th, weakened 4 out, mistake 3 out
in touch, lost plce 10th, blundered 11th, headway after 4 out, kept on same pace
towards rear, lost touch 8th, tailed off
Keepthedreamalive should pick up some more place prize money but he would be a surprise winner. Clear rounds should see Oceanos Des Obeaux and Pur De Sivola fight out the finish; we think Alan King's runner can prevail. There's nothing between these two on official ratings and there are slight question marks over both runners. Oceanos Des Obeaux put two poor runs behind him, albeit in top company, to win a Newbury handicap last time but the manner of his success didn't convince and the form hasn't worked out. Pur De Sivola has just got better and better over fences since finishing 13 lengths behind Marodima at Warwick in November. He looked sure to climb another rung up the ladder last time until taking an absolutely crashing fall at Kempton. He looked to have the measure of Oslot and the previously unbeaten Hobbs Hill at the time and a reproduction of that form would make him hard to beat. It remains to be seen whether that heavy fall has left its mark but Pur De Sivola gets our vote.
Oceanos des Obeaux (FR) 15-2 (11-12) Held up, ridden approaching 9th, stayed on from 3 out, led last, driven out, won at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb beating Key Phil (11-3) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Pur De Sivola (FR) 17-2 (11-5) Tracked leader, slow 2nd, soon in touch, pushed along 5 out, every chance when fell 3 out in race won by Oslot (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Feb, 5 ran.
Keepthedreamalive 9-2 (10-12) Held up, headway after 4th, ridden and chased leader 4 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 6, 20l behind Theatre Diva (9-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) sft.
Bay Mouse 10-1 (12-0) pulled up in race won by El Nombre (12-0) at Littlewindsor 3m ptp gd in Apr '05, 11 ran.
Istron Bay 50-1 (11-3) Mid-division, mistake 6th, soon weakened, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Shining Gale (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh mdn hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Lancaster Sound (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, ridden after 5th, weakened after 7th and pulled up 3 out in race won by Mister Gloss (11-4) at Exeter 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gd in Feb, 13 ran.
Proud Peer (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, behind when fell 2 out in race won by Manhattan Boy (11-0) at Taunton 2m beg chs (4) sft, 6 ran.
