tracked leaders and keen, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out
held up, headway over 5f out, chased leaders 4f out, one pace final furlong
held up, headway 6f out, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden to lead 3f out, clear over 1f out, ran green
towards rear, headway over 5f out, chased leaders 4f out, one pace
prominent, ridden and weakened 6f out
led, went wide on bend after 2f and headed briefly, ridden 4f out, headed over 3f out, kept on
mid-division, pulled hard, tailed off halfway
Beau Regard sets the standard among those to have raced previously but the ground is better today than when Colin Tizzard's gelding made his debut at Exeter and it may pay to look among the newcomers with preference for Oberon Moon over Ripalong Lad. The selection represents the powerful yard of Paul Nicholls and, being related to a couple of winning hurdlers and chasers, he takes the eye on breeding so is marginally preferred. Alan King's Botaldor was well held on his Huntingdon debut and may be better than he showed that day but is hard to recommend with any confidence, while Francis Dunstan gave little cause for optimism on his first start at Newbury in an admittedly better race than this. Peter Bowen is capable of producing one to win first time out so Richard Johnson's mount Ripalong Lad has to be respected but it is Oberon Moon that gets the vote.
