made all, jumped well, ridden approaching last, stayed on well
took keen hold, mistakes in rear, fell 6th
held up, behind from 8th, tailed off
held up, headway 4th, hit 7th, chased winner 3 out, mistake 2 out, closed last, no extra flat
tracked leaders, jumped left 1st, chased winner after 5th, not fluent 8th, lost 2nd 3 out, weakened approaching last
tracked leaders, mistake 6th, hit 9th, and reminder, ridden 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
tracked winner until after 5th, lost place when blundered 6th, soon behind, hit 10th and pulled up
An easy winner on his last start and with rock solid form supporting his claims the verdict has to go the way of PICKAMUS in this handicap chase ahead of Baren De Doc and Alesandro Mantegna. Four lengths was the margin of success for the pick last time out and with three subsequent winners in behind him that day he looks set to overcome and eight pound mark rise and go in again. Baren De Doc may fair better now switch back to handicaps after struggling in beginners' events recently. That said his mark still looks on the high side. Alesandro Mantegna's last effort was too bad to be true and is perhaps better judged on his narrow win a Kempton two starts ago. He remains five pounds heavier in the handicap than when scoring that day and he seems better over a sharper test. Orfeo Conti does stay at least this far and again despite disappointing last time he should be capable off this rating while Kew Jumper seems to be running back into form but was well held off this mark on his last appearance. There are a few doubts about all of these but Pickamus has solid form claims.
Pickamus (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Made all, drew clear approaching 2 out, won at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar beating Carlitos (10-12) by 4l, 8 ran.
Like A Duke (FR) 11-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, pulled hard, bumped 1st, no chance approaching 3 out, 11th of 13, 36l behind Russian Flag (11-5) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
William Butler (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 14th, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and weakened from next, 8th of 12, 28l behind Busy Isit (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Kew Jumper (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Held up, blundered 2nd, headway 6th, hit 8th and 4 out, chased winner after 3 out, no impression after next, 2nd of 5, 16l behind Its Crucial (10-10) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Mar.
Alesandro Mantegna (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) In touch on inside, lost place 6th, behind when mistake 10th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Midnight Chase (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd, 13 ran.
Baren De Doc (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) With leader, hit 4th, led 6th until next, reminders after 10th, every chance approaching 3 out, no impression on winner from next, scrapped for 2nd until towards finish, 3rd of 4, 11l behind Sarde (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f beg chase (4) sft in Mar.
Orfeo Conti (FR) 4-1 (11-8) Led, belted 1st, not fluent next, headed 12th, led again 13th, not fluent and headed 4 out, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Sea Cadet (10-8) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
