held up towards rear, pushed along and headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
held up in rear, headway halfway, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra run-in
tracked leaders, outpaced 7th, rallied to chase leader approaching 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on
led until mistake and headed 1st, remained close up, reminder 4th, ridden and effort 3 out, no extra from 2 out
in touch, dropped rear 3rd, behind from halfway
led 1st, headed approaching 3 out, weakened befored next
We are taking Ragu to build on a promising win six days ago, but Bodfari Signet, Plenty Courage and Miss Lacroix can all have cases made for them. Ragu won a mares' only novice event in very good style last time, and the handicapper has not overreacted to that so she too is entitled to go well. Sue Bradburne has her team in good form and, despite being raised five pounds for his first career win last time, Bodfari Signet can run well again. Nosam has won three times here, but he has not won a hurdle race since 1997. Now 13, he has a very good chance if transferring his chasing form to hurdles but, overall, we think he's opposable in terms of winning this race. Bergamo won a handicap hurdle at Fakenham in March 2002 from a mark of 101. He's rated 95 now so a return to that level of form would make him very interesting. However, recent efforts, including when beaten here in a seller, have been disappointing. Stormy Beech has yet to prove he stays this far; Highland Tracker has an 886-day absence to overcome and Thistlekicker's sole career win has come in a seller. Miss Lacroix won a Fontwell conditional jockeys event from a mark of 78 fourteen months ago and, despite her last three efforts being indifferent, she could go well at the bottom of the weights. Course and distance winner Plenty Courage is well handicapped if able to reproduce his winning form of two years ago. He too could well be thereabouts turning for home but, overall, we are going to side promise over experience so Ragu gets the vote.
