fell 1st
held up, hit 4th, reminders after next, well beaten 3 out
held up, not fluent 4th, well beaten when not fluent 3 out
tracked leaders, reminder after 4th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, behind and pulled up before 2 out
very reluctant to race, lost at least 30 lengths, in touch before 4th, lost touch again after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, hit 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on one pace from 2 out
chased winner, not fluent 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, challenging between last 2, slightly hampered last, switched right flat, stayed on
made all, edged left between last 2, not fluent last, ridden and edged left flat, stayed on gamely
A good quality race in which PICKAMUS is the percentage call following his win at Hereford but Pagano, Approved Force and Hohlethelonely all have the ability to cause him problems. Pickamus will need to progress again in order to defy a 9lb higher mark in what is potentially a better race but at least we know that he's in form and he does have the potential to improve after just a handful of starts. Quicker ground is an issue but his connections presumably wouldn't risk him if they were concerned about his ability to handle it. Pagano is back down to a winning mark and is relatively fresh with just the one start to his name this year. He didn't shape too badly on that run but his form had tailed off last season and he has to prove that he can go on. Former stablemate Daryal has even more to prove following a heavy defeat whilst Hohlethelonely refused to take part at Uttoxeter which raises obvious doubts. Approved Force was quietly fancied for a competitive handicap hurdle at Sandown in December but failed to land a blow in that race or on his next start. The handicapper is slowly easing his grip and he'd be a leading fancy if the money were to appear. Smoothly Does It is nicely handicapped these days and is also worth keeping an eye on but we know where we stand with Pickamus and will award him the vote.
Pagano (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, outpaced 3 out, rallied approaching 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 12, 9l behind L'Eau Du Nil (11-2) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Approved Force (USA) 18-1 (11-12) Led to 5th, ridden 6th, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 41l behind Oldrik (11-5) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan.
Daryal (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Held up in last pair, mistake and ridden 5th, driven and struggling next, 5th of 8, 39l behind Victorias Groom (11-6) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Mujamead 25-1 (11-3) In touch, raced keenly, hampered 2 out, soon beaten, 9th of 13, 10l behind Princess Flame (10-10) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Hohlethelonely 9-2jt-fav (10-13) refused in race won by Fredo (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gs, 10 ran.
Smoothly Does It 16-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, led 5th to 3 out, weakened under pressure before next, 7th of 10, 15l behind Spanish Conquest (10-9) at Kempton 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Faversham 15-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 4th, soon pushed along, weakened after 5th, 8th of 10, 40l behind Orpen Wide (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Tampa Boy (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Led, headed 3 out, driven, no impression from next, 3rd of 9, 13l behind Spanish Conquest (9-9) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Spider Boy 14-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders and keen, led 4th, headed 5th, hard ridden, lost 3rd flat, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Dantari (10-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Pickamus (FR) 10-3 (11-2) Took keen hold, always prominent, went 2nd before 3 out, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Hereford 2m 1f nh mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb beating Mac Halen (10-13) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
