led 2nd, slow jump 5th, soon headed, prominent, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out
led until 2nd, lost touch from 5th, tailed off and pulled up before last
soon tailed off, blundered 8th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
in touch, headway 5th, effort approaching 4 out, one pace from 3 out
tracked leader, led 6th, ridden after 4 out, headed approaching last, no extra
held up, headway 5th, challenged 4 out, soon ridden, led approaching last, driven out
mistake 8th, always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, took closer order 7th, went 3rd after 4 out, stayed on run in, finished well final 50 yards
PASCO may be able to knock the stuffing out of Straw Bear and also overcome the challenges of Or Bleu, Sir Harry Ormesher, Rodrigo Gonzales and Gauvain. Gauvain only managed to win once over hurdles but ended up racing off a hundred and forty which was a higher rating than that achieved by Rodrigo Gonzales and Or Bleu who progressed well through the season. Their hurdle marks may prove to be no more than curiosity value here and all three are interesting recruits to chasing. Sir Harry Ormesher was turned over at odds of 1-12 on his final start but he had earned that starting price with some smart performances and should make up into a chaser. Straw Bear was by some way the best of these over hurdles and was only beaten fifteen lengths into fifth in the Champion Hurdle on his penultimate start. He is the class act in the field but he has had problems with bleeding and has yet to jump a fence in public and is worth opposing at the likely cramped odds on his chase bow. Pasco disappointed in the Supreme Novices' but this giant gelding had won two of his three previous starts and appeals as the type to do even better now that he's got another year on his back. His trainer has won this with a couple of smart sorts in recent years and Pasco may prove to be another one.
Gauvain (GER) 16-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 8th, headed 3 out, weakened before next, 11th of 18, 29l behind Backbord (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Knapp Bridge Boy 100-1 (11-0) Led until after 1st, chased leaders until weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Leo's Lucky Star (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jun, 14 ran.
Major League (USA) 20-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, driven along 5th, weakened quickly, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Rio De Janeiro (10-12) at Stratford 2m nov hdl (3) sft in May '06, 13 ran.
Mount Oscar (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Tracked leader to 3rd, tracked leader again 7th, ridden 3 out, weakening when jumped left 2 out, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Quickbeam (11-7) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Or Bleu (FR) 7-2jt-fav (11-8) In touch, chased leader 6th, ridden in 2nd 3 out, left in front last, hard ridden flat, just held on, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar beating Purple Patch (10-8) by a nk, 9 ran.
Pasco (SWI) 16-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, ridden and weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Captain Cee Bee (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar, 22 ran.
Rodrigo Gonzales (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, disputed lead after 3 out, driven next, led after last, hard ridden and kept on flat, won at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Stellenbosch (11-2) by a nk, 8 ran.
Sir Harry Ormesher 1-12fav (11-12) Led, tried to duck out on stable bend at 3rd, kept narrow advantage, ridden and headed after 3 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 3, 37l behind Captain Smoothy (10-7) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) hvy in Apr.
Sironi (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 6th of 11, well behind Marsh Court (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd.
Straw Bear (USA) 15-2 (11-7) Held up, headway 7th, chased winner after 2 out until no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Al Eile (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
