This looks like another winner for the trainer-owner combination of Vaughan and Johnson with THEMANFROMFRAAM who strolled home unchallenged here over the weekend. He won with any amount in hand and his handler seems certain to try and run up a sequence with the gelding. He was backed as if defeat was out of the question on that first run under Rules since 2009 and only the dreaded 'bounce' factor should prevent a follow-up. Sovereign Spirit is the each-way alternative if all eight stand their ground as he continues to be there or thereabouts, whilst Spot The Ball has to be the subject of a market check as he's yet another O'Neill inmate who's shown little or nothing to date but should do much better now handicapped.
Karshaan (FR) 10-11 (12-5) Held up; went 2nd 14; wknd 2 out, 3rd of 13, 29l behind Bold Chief (12-0) at Upcott Cross 3m ptp gd in Apr.
Tavalu (USA) 10-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, mistake 7th, soon ridden, blundered and weakened next, 5th of 12, 30l behind Speedy Directa (11-3) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Apr.
Mrs Peacock (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 6th, lost place from next, 7th of 10, well behind Peqeno Diablo (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Spot The Ball (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Behind, jumped left 4th, reminders 7th, headway after 4 out, weakened 2 out, 13th of 18, well behind Pocketwood (11-9) at Exeter 2m 5f 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Sovereign Spirit (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Prominent, tracked winner 3rd, ridden 3 out (now 2 out), kept on one pace from next (now last), 3rd of 6, 11l behind Pollen Jock (11-2) at Fakenham 2m 4f Lady Amateur Handicap Hurdle (0-90) (4yo+) (5) gf in May.
Galant Eye (IRE) 25-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened after 3rd, tailed off, 12th of 15, well behind Galantos (10-11) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Jessica 17-2 (10-7) In rear, mistakes 1st and 3rd, reminders after 6th, weakened 8th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Speedy Directa (11-3) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Apr, 12 ran.
Themanfromfraam 8-13fav (10-0) Chased leader, led approaching 2nd, blunderd badly 10th, clear 4 out, went right last, very easily, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May beating Captain Crackers (11-9) by 23l, 9 ran.
