held up in touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out
tracked leader, ridden to press leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong
raced in last place throughout, ridden 3f out, no impression
led, ridden and hung left over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd post
keen in touch, ridden 2f out, effort 1f out, kept on to go 2nd post
It didn't take long for trainer George Baker to get a win out of OSCAR CLOSE, and the five-year-old looks capable of following up his Leicester maiden win and finish ahead of Sumani and Benozzo Gozzoli. Our selection has previously done reasonably well in maiden hurdles in Ireland, where he kept finding one too good. However, his new trainer placed him to good effect first time out here, and now steps him up to a trip that should also suit. There is plenty of stamina in his pedigree, and while it is his handicap debut, he hasn't been hammered by the assessor, and he can follow-up. Sumani won a 10f Lingfield handicap in May and has run with credit in defeats over trips around 1m 4f in recent outings. This significant step up in distance might be asking too much of him, however, if pedigree is any guide. Benozzo Gozzoli has confounded his own pedigree by winning over a similar trip to this at Nottingham, but he may already be in the grip of the assessor if his latest run is anything to go by, and that success looks very much an isolated one with a check of his CV. Whitegold stays well enough but has so far lacked gears, but Swordsman is worth consideration after dropping to the same mark as when winning over two miles on fast ground at Lingfield last year. An interesting race where the unexposed Oscar Close can score.
Oscar Close (IRE) 2-5fav (9-9) Made all, set steady pace, ridden over 1f out, edged right 1f out, asserted towards finish, won at Leicester 1m 4f mdn stks (5) sft beating Mohanad (9-10) by 2l, 4 ran.
Swordsman (GER) 10-1 (11-11) Chased leaders until lost place 5f out, 11th of 14, 48l behind Kokkokila (11-0) at Goodwood 2m hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Golden Games (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Soon tracking leader, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 34l behind Slick Mover (8-10) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Benozzo Gozzoli 11-8fav (8-3) Led, ridden 3f out, headed 2f out, weakened and eased approaching final furlong, 7th of 8, 14l behind Dubai Diva (8-8) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Wightgold 4-1 (8-2) Went right start, took keen hold and held up in close 4th, went 3rd 6f out, kept on inside 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 2 3/4l behind Saborido (9-4) at Bath 2m 1f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Sumani (FR) 6-1 (9-1) Led after 1f, headed 10f out, led again over 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Mr Plod (8-7) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
