chased leaders, lost place after 3rd, tailed off 3 out
prominent, hit 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up, mistake 2nd, headway and mistake 5th, weakened approaching next
with leader, led 3rd, ridden clear when hit 2 out, easily
led to 3rd, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
in touch, went 2nd 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, beaten when blundered last
held up and keen, headway 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
mistakes, held up, effort 4th, soon weakened
Mondul would not have to be anything special to oblige on his debut and is the pick ahead of Stolen Song, Penric and Dickens. Mondul is one of a pair of horses acquired from Christian Von de Recke, the other being Travello, and Milton Harris knows a bargain when he sees one. So, we can assume that Mondul will have been taught to jump well enough to pay his way, although he was no great shakes on the flat in Germany. Stolen Song was a maiden on the flat and seemed to have stamina limitations when failing to justify plenty of support on his timber bow at Huntingdon. Penric in contrast was a stayer on the level, and will probably need further than two miles over hurdles. As for Dickens, he left Aidan O'Brien after just the one outing, at Gowran Park in October 2002, and lines up as perhaps one of the best bred juvenile hurdles around, being by King Of Kings out of a Trempelino mare. He could be anything if staying the trip, but on this occasion the vote goes to Mondul.
