in touch, ridden 5th, lost touch after next, tailed off
jumped poorly, always behind, driven and lost touch after 6th, tailed off
chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced by leading pair approaching 3 out
tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, hit 2 out, clear when hit last, driven out, flat
led until headed approaching 3 out, stayed chasing winner but outpaced before last
held up in touch, ridden to chase leading trio approaching 3 out, soon outpaced
mistake and dropped rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
took keen hold, soon close up, mistake and nearly unseated rider 4th, outpaced 7th, tailed off in 5th when mistakes last 2
Not a bad little race to kick off the return of jumping at Windsor and Our Samson may be capable of getting his nose in front, with In The Park, Maximinus and Mel In Blue others to consider. The selection was green enough on debut in a Folkestone bumper earlier in the month, but there are reasons to recommend him here despite that 22 length defeat. Firstly, he will be much more street wise here, as well as better for the run, his yard is in form, and he should be at home over this more suitable trip. Gary Moore will have him well schooled for this hurdling debut and we are prepared to take a chance on him. In The Park will have his supporters and if he ran to the level of form of his heavy ground Killarney bumper win last year then he would have every chance. However, he has clearly had problems since then and Jonjo O'Neill's runners are still not fully firing, so he may have to wait for another day. Maximinus has yet to score in four previous attempts over hurdles, but showed us his best so far when third of 11 at Lingfield last time. He can again make the frame here, while Mel In Blue caught a tartar in The Mick Weston at Cheltenham last month and if he can run up to that level over hurdles then he too has every chance. An intriguing contest then and we will chance Our Samson to outmuscle them.
