close up, led 8th, headed approaching 10th, every chance approaching 4 out, blundered 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, led approaching 4 out, headed 2 out, no extra approaching last
led to 8th, ridden after 5 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway approaching and not fluent 3 out, led next, soon clear
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, went 3rd last, no impression
held up in touch, pushed along approaching 10th, soon in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, led approaching 10th, headed approaching 4 out, weakened approaching next
The Snail keeps on defying the handicapper and can't be confidently opposed but we'll take him on under sufferance by selecting HERONS WELL over the Evan Williams runner and Soixante in what promises to be a good race. Rebecca Curtis is gaining plenty of admirers and looks a trainer en route to the top having shown a real skill for placing her horses. That shrewd judgement saw Herons Well oblige last time and with this step up in trip set to suit he may go in again, with a 4lb rise in the weights possibly underestimating his potential and this longer trip set to suit. If we're lashing praise on Miss Curtis then Evan Williams must also be applauded for getting six wins out of The Snail this season. This seven-year-old has won his last three over fences, most recently by proving far too good in a relatively weak contest, so whilst this is undeniably tougher and he's a 7lb penalty to carry there is no horse arriving here in better form. Our inclination is just to take him on though as eventually the handicapper is going to catch him and he's been on the go since last summer. Soixante has won two races over fences and did well to hold off the late thrust of Wee Robbie last time. The form of that race has been franked to an extent with the runner up having gone close since but it's a worry that AP has jumped ship - he's been aboard for both the gelding's victories. The combination of that and a 4lb rise in the weights might be enough to stop Henrietta Knight's runner, but he might take third and complete a clean sweep for the higher rated horses here. Tyup Pompey showed more last time and his best form has come here although this does look a bit better than he is and similar comments apply to Markila who has two wins at the course to his name but doesn't looked handicapped to make it three. As such, a bigger threat may come from Chance Du Roy who did it very nicely last time although, like Majy D'Auteuil, he may need a slightly quicker surface than the one likely here. All seven can be given some sort of chance but we'll take Herons Well to land The Oakly Park Challenge Cup for an emerging yard.
Soixante (IRE) 3-1fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, mistake 8th, led approaching 3out, strongly challenged flat, held on gamely, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb beating Wee Robbie (11-7) by nk, 8 ran.
Herons Well (IRE) 11-8fav (11-2) Raced wide, led 1st, tracked leaders, mistake 8th, pressed leader from 4 out, every chance 2 out, driven to lead flat, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Mar beating Enlightenment (11-12) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
The Snail 6-4fav (11-6) Led until 2nd, led 6th, not fluent 8th, headed 11th, led next, drew clear approaching 4 out, in command after, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar beating Sou'wester (11-12) by 7l, 5 ran.
Chance Du Roy (FR) 11-4 (11-8) Held up in touch, went 2nd 8th, not fluent 11th, led after 5 out, mistake 4 out, driven out, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar beating Magot De Grugy (10-5) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Markila (FR) 22-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, ridden after 5 out, soon lost place, 6th of 8, 38l behind Pickamus (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Majy D'auteuil (FR) 3-1 (10-3) Held up in touch, went 2nd approaching 2f out, one pace from last, 2nd of 6, 8l behind I Hear Thunder (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Led 2nd until 6th, led 11th until 12th, no impression on winner approaching 4 out, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 5, 8l behind The Snail (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
