Minella Charmer has more letters than numbers in his form figures but is a decent handicapper when getting his act together as he showed on testing ground here last March and at Haydock in December. Secrete Stream has gained most of his victories over further than this including a battling success over 2m3f at Wetherby three weeks ago when Antunes was beaten 15 lengths. MCGOWAN'S PASS was well supported when landing a handicap on heavy ground at Ayr by 14 lengths then didn't quite get home over 2m6f at Kelso. Back over a more suitable trip, he can go in again. It's difficult to know what to make of Big Blue, who won the St Leger in Australia on heavy ground and won three times over hurdles there but has struggled badly in his runs at Kempton and Naas at a very much higher level.
Big Blue 40-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders in moderate 3rd, ridden in closer 3rd entering straight, dropped to 4th after 2 out, weakened, 6th of 7, 17 3/4l behind Stormy Ireland (11-1) at Naas 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Minella Charmer (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Made all, jumped left at times, strongly challenged from 2 out, blundered last, kept on well under pressure, won at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Fin And Game (11-6) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Secrete Stream (IRE) 18-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, lost place 5th, headway after 8th, not fluent 3 out, led flat, edged left, held on, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Weather Front (11-4) by shd, 12 ran.
Antunes 3-1fav (11-11) Held up in rear, steady headway from 6th, beaten 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no extra, 7th of 12, 14 3/4l behind Secrete Stream (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
McGowan's Pass 9-2 (10-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, led after next, ridden and headed approaching omitted last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 6 1/2l behind The Con Man (10-5) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Thor De Cerisy (FR) 2-1 (11-12) Tracked winner, driven and lost place before 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 7, 29l behind Deja Vue (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Keyboard Gangster (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Raced keenly, tracked leaders on inside, driven and outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Elvis Mail (11-2) at Ayr 2m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
