in rear, struggling from 6th, tailed off 10th
led, headed 2 out, switched left after last, 3rd and held after, stayed on, rider lost iron towards finish
tracked leader, not fluent 1st or when challenging 3 out, led next, edged right flat, stayed on gamely
Calivigny and Delusionofgrandeur are useful northern hurdlers but O O SEVEN sets the most exacting of standards after being the only one to bustle up the potentially outstanding Yorkhill in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown. That was a really smart effort and he will have no problems with this quicker ground and really should win with a degree of comfort. Unbeaten under Rules, Fagan remains an unknown quantity at present but commands immediate respect as a raider from the relentlessly improving Gordon Elliott operation.
Calivigny (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Mid-division in touch, ridden after 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Ballydine (11-3) at Newcastle 2m 6f (2) sft in Nov.
Delusionofgrandeur (IRE) 5-2 (11-8) Made all, driven 2 out, 3 lengths clear when hit last, ridden out flat, won at Catterick 3m 1f (4) sft in Jan beating Jonniesofa (12-0) by 6l, 7 ran.
O O Seven (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, ridden to challenge 2 out, dived at last, held flat, kept on, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Yorkhill (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Fagan 1-7fav (11-0) In touch, headway before 3 out, led before next, soon clear, won at Musselburgh 2m (4) sft in Dec beating Away For Slates (11-0) by 6l, 5 ran.
