in touch, chased leaders 5th, good headway to lead after 3 out, shaken up and clear approaching 2 out, hit last, easily
prominent, ridden and challenged after 3 out, held in 3rd when fell last
led, clear after 5th, ridden and headed 3 out, kept on one pace
chased leader, ridden and weakened after 4th, pulled up after 3 out
held up, ridden and no chance from 5th, tailed off, left distant 3rd last
held up last, lost touch after 4th, pulled up after 3 out
On Oath is less exposed than most of these after just three career starts but Nigel Hawke's gelding needs to improve dramatically on previous form to trouble the judge in a race that looks little more than a match between Come Out Firing and MAC HALEN, with the latter getting the verdict. Come Out Firing comes into this in good form having won his last two starts last month, a maiden hurdle at Towcester and a novices' handicap chase here, and he has every chance back over hurdles today. A penalty for Andy Haynes' gelding makes this more difficult and a safer option looks to be Mac Halen. The Evan Williams-trained gelding has shown improved form in his last two starts when finding just one too good and he can go one better today. There is little to recommend any of the remaining three runners in the field with Something Inside having marginally better form than Saffron Spring and The Duckster. In what really amounts to little more than a match preference is for Mac Halen over Come Out Firing.
Come Out Firing (IRE) 7-4fav (11-9) Close up, led after 3 out, soon clear, went right next, ridden out, won at Newton Abbot 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in May beating New Rackheath (10-12) by 11l, 8 ran.
Mac Halen (IRE) 2-1 (10-13) Tracked clear leader, left in narrow lead 9th, ridden and headed after 3 out, held before next, beaten when went left and blundered last, 2nd of 5, 12l behind King's Alchemist (10-7) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Something Inside (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 3 out, soon ridden, one pace from next, 4th of 8, 10l behind Dee Cee Elle (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hdl (5) gf in May.
The Duckster (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) (tt) hdwy 4 out; nt rch wnr, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Portway Lane (10-0) at Ideford Arch 2m 4f ptp in May.
On Oath (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up, struggling after 5th, weakened after 3 out, left poor 4th last, 4th of 9, 43l behind Ambrose Princess (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Saffron Spring 80-1 (10-5) Held up, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, 6th of 9, well behind Ambrose Princess (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in May.
