led until after 2nd, tracked leaders, ridden and effort approaching 3 out, soon one pace
raced green, tracked leaders, joined leader 4th, led after 5th, quickened clear when challenged 2 out, not fluent last, readily
raced green, prominent, led after 2nd until 4th, chased leaders until weakened 3 out
with leader, led 4th until after next, soon ridden, kept on same pace
mid-division until 4th, soon behind
held up, headway after 5th, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged next, not pace of winner
virtually refused to race, always tailed off
Boychuk will be all the rage here and should safely follow up at the expense of Oasis Blue and Wardash. This is another race that Philip Hobbs collected on the corresponding card last year, and he will surely be disappointed if Boychuk does not emulate Monticelli today. The four-year-old was well supported in the ring before finishing a promising ninth in a Tipperary bumper in June, and it was no surprise when he duly obliged at Killarney a month later. His then trainer John Kiely reckoned that he had a bright future over hurdles but would not want testing conditions, and having now moved to Minehead, he has conditions in his favour. Sure to have been well schooled, this should be little more than an exercise canter for the son of Insan who can go on to bigger and better things from here. Oasis Blue may be the one to chase him home. He floundered in the soft ground on his debut under rules at Warwick last November and can make a better impression today. His stablemate Wardash has a penalty to carry and was tried over fences last time so he is beatable, and Boychuk should easily have the measure of him and the rest this afternoon.
Wardash (GER) 14-1 (11-8) Mid-division, blundered 8th, never on terms, 6th of 10, 43l behind Jazz Night (12-1) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gf in Aug.
Boychuk (IRE) 3-1fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, steady progress into 3rd travelling well entering straight, soon ridden, stayed on well to lead inside final furlong, won at Killarney 2m 1f nhf frm in Jul beating Double Tree (11-7) by 1l, 14 ran.
Life Estates 14-1 (11-7) pulled up in race won by Mystic Warrior (12-0) at Bratton Down 3m ptp gd in May, 9 ran.
Oasis Blue (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Held up, headway 6f out, wide entering straight, every chance 2f out, no impression when switched left 1f out, 10th of 14, 15l behind Vertical Bloom (10-2) at Warwick 1m 6f nhf (H) sft in Nov.
Raneen Nashwan 33-1 (10-0) Never on terms, 9th of 16, 19l behind Sunnyland (10-11) at Worcester 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf in Sept.
Barum Belle 25-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders until after 5th, soon behind, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Fire Ranger (10-12) at N Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) gf in Aug.
Impatient Lady 16-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders until 5th, soon behind, 7th of 8, 31l behind Fire Ranger (10-12) at N Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) gf in Aug.
Norman's Glories 9-2 (11-0) Raced keenly in touch, went badly right 6th, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Cantgeton (11-6) at N Abbot 2m 3f nov hdl (D) gs in Aug, 9 ran.
