Oscatello lost no caste in defeat behind the useful Temoin in a better race than this at Sandown last time and is taken to go one better off his 5lb higher mark today, with the main dangers looking to be Prestbury Knight and Lord Ryeford. Both of the last two mentioned won novice contests last time and have to be respected on their handicap debuts but this looks tougher and neither would appear to be particularly well treated first time out in this grade. Autumn Red has yet to win a race but has gone well in defeat and looks to be on a fair mark for his handicap debut, while Chickapeakray may want a softer surface and looks to be a shade high in the weights now. Henrietta Knight's Smart Mover is entitled to be thereabouts under Timmy Murphy but a better bet looks to be Oscatello, who showed enough at Sandown last time under similar conditions to suggest that a race of this nature would be within his compass.
Oscatello (USA) 5-2fav (10-11) Led to 3rd, stayed tracking leader, led approaching 2 out, joined and hard pressed last, headed and soon no chance with winner run-in, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Temoin (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Smart Mover 7-2 (10-12) In touch, led and went right 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Adventurist (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gf in Feb.
Prestbury Knight 7-1 (10-12) Prominent, ran on to challenge 2 out, led last, driven out flat, won at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Dec beating Loita Hills (10-12) by 4l, 9 ran.
Autumn Red (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 4th of 6, 22l behind Tokala (11-8) at Fakenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Jan.
Lord Ryeford (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Made virtually all, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb beating Freddie Ed (11-3) by 1l, 9 ran.
Cresswell Willow (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Led, headed approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 13, 19l behind Senorita Rumbalita (11-6) at Hereford 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Follow The Bear 28-1 (11-6) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Rift Valley (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Apr, 18 ran.
Penny Park (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Led until after 1st, led again next, headed after 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching next, 7th of 18, well behind Orcadian (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Welsh Dane 11-1 (10-1) Prominent, led 4th to 6th, led again 8th, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 9, 38l behind Mayoun (9-8) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Ol' Man River (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden 7th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 12, 27l behind Herecomestanley (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Chickapeakray 11-4 (10-7) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 32l behind New Perk (10-3) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jan.
Paradise Bay (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Prominent, led approaching 5th, headed and weakened 3 out, behind when blundered 2 out, last of 6, well behind Play The Melody (11-3) at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) sft in Dec.
