tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden to chase winner approaching last, no impression
held up in rear and keen, fell 8th
made all, clear approaching last, eased towards finish
tracked leaders, soon chasing winner, mistake 8th, not fluent 2 out, ridden and weakened approaching last
Little Josh is well thought of by Nigel Twiston-Davies, but Ferdy Murphy has talked of OCKEY DE NEULLIAC as Arkle material, and if that is the case he should be good enough to land this contest. Murphy saddled Kalahari King to make the frame in this year's Arkle, so he knows the sort of ability required for the two miles novices' championship, and although the selection has already won here over further when hurdling, he has cited the shorter route as the way to go with his seven-year-old. His first run of the season was clearly a pipe-opener for which he can come on plenty, and he acts well on bottomless ground so we'll side with him. Little Josh also recorded soft and heavy ground hurdling wins over further than this, so he too has plenty of stamina, and after making the frame on his chase debut he was going well up front when falling at Cheltenham last week. He should make this a strong race of its type and would be no shock winner. Conditions should suit Little Bob, but he will need to improve on his hurdling abilities to take a serious hand, while the same applies to Hexham bumper winner Drever Route, who may have to wait for other days. A fascinating race in prospect and Ockey De Neulliac is the suggestion.
Drever Route (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden, weakened quickly 2 out, soon beaten, 4th of 9, 49l behind Frontier Dancer (11-5) at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Fettler 200-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Soft Spoken Guy (10-9) at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs, 11 ran.
Little Josh (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Led until fell 8th, in a race won by Weird Al (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gs, 6 ran.
Ockey De Neulliac (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Held up, ridden 5 out, never on terms, 5th of 10, 33l behind Fiendish Flame (11-2) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Little Bob 16-1 (10-10) Chased leader, ridden and every chance before 3 out, weakening when hampered bend before 2 out, behind when pulled up before last, in a race won by Oceana Gold (11-9) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May, 13 ran.
