tracked leaders, effort to lead well before 2 out, soon clear, stayed on strongly, driven out
held up in 6th, struggling before 3 out, no chance and tailed off when pulled up before next
not always fluent, led to 2nd, chased leader, led next, ridden and headed well before 2 out, chased winner after and kept on, always held
held up in touch, driven and went 3rd before 2 out, no extra between last 2
led 2nd to next, chased leader to well before 2 out, weakened 2 out
close up in 4th, ridden to challenge for 2nd approaching 2 out, weakened into 4th and blundered badly last
sweating, took keen hold, held up in rear, ridden and beaten after 3 out, well behind when pulled up before next
Osako D'airy has been good value for his two successes in his last two starts and, despite a 15lbs rise since the latest of them, the Steve Gollings-trained gelding may be capable of winning again and gets the vote to do just that ahead of Mous Of Men and The Cayterers. The last mentioned showed improved form when landing a novices' hurdle at Leicester last time and has to be respected on that evidence but he may be a shade high in the weights for his debut in a handicap. Odal D'airy is less exposed than most of these but would need to improve considerably on the form shown at Wincanton last time to trouble the judge. Our Choice has plenty of weight for what he has achieved and of more interest may be Henrietta Knight's Mous Of Men who should improve for his seasonal reappearance run at Exeter in October and now encounters a more suitable softer surface. Osako D'airy is the form horse of the race though and he is preferred.
Osako D'airy (FR) 11-8fav (11-5) Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f ldy hcp hdl (4) gs in Nov beating That's Racing (10-3) by 19l, 10 ran.
Our Choice (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up, mistake 4th, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 18, 7l behind Prince Taime (10-12) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Coda Agency 11-1 (11-8) Jumped right throughout, led, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened, 6th of 11, 18l behind Zero (11-10) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Nov.
Sarde (FR) (10-8) Some late headway, 4th of 13, 7l behind Comaro (10-6) at Enghien 2m hdl in Sept.
The Cayterers 10-3 (10-9) Led 2nd, mistake 2 out, soon hung right, driven out, won at Leicester 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Faversham (10-12) by 4l, 11 ran.
Sahf London 9-1 (10-6) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway to chase leaders 5th, mistake next, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 4th of 10, 19l behind Peacock (10-3) at Fakenham 2m cnd mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Odal D'airy (FR) 5-2fav (11-10) Pulled early, held up, headway to lead 3rd, mistake 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 35l behind Miss Midnight (10-3) at Wincanton 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Mous Of Men (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden and challenged 2 out, kept on same pace flat, 4th of 11, 4l behind Felinious (11-6) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
