held up, headway 6f out, chased winner 2f out, hard ridden over 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, no extra close home
led after 3f, ridden and edged left over 1f out and just inside final furlong, kept on well
led for 3f, chased winner, pushed along 4f out, weakened well over 1f out
chased leaders, lost place and behind 4f out, stayed on from over 1f out, kept on flat
in touch, pushed along 6f out, weakened quickly, tailed off
held up, headway on outside 7f out, hung right and weakened 2f out
held up, headway 6f out, close up over 3f out, soon weakened
held up in touch, lost place halfway, well behind 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong
Jonjo O'Neill won this corresponding 12 months ago with Rhinestone Cowboy and is taken to do so again with Very Optimistic, who gets the vote over New Mischief and Alpine Fox. The last mentioned has won his last two starts but might not have beaten a great deal and faces a stiff task giving weight away today. The Posh Paddy also has a double penalty to carry following wins at Clonmel and Roscommon and more solid claims are held by Noel Chance's New Mischief. The son of Accordian is held in high regard by his connections and reportedly has the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle as his target this term so it could be interesting that his shrewd handler has decided to run him here. Martin Pipe's Friendly Fellow, a son of Environment Friend, has to be respected on his debut, as does Perth winner What Do'in, from the in-form stable of Nigel Twiston-Davies but the one that gets the vote is Very Optimistic. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding made an impressive winning debut at Ascot in April, running out the cosy winner of a 19-runner contest. There is surely plenty more to come from the son of Un Desperado, who looks the one to be on.
