pulled hard early, held up in mid-division, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, jumped right last, one pace
prominent, headway 5th, led on bit after 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, driven out under pressure flat
led, jumped left 3rd, headed 4th, soon ridden and weakened
chased leader,led 4th to after 3 out, ridden and stayed on same pace from 2 out
held up last, reminder 5th, headway after 3 out, ridden and stayed on from 2 out, jumped right last, ran on well to go 2nd flat, nearest finish
held up in mid-division, ridden and lost place 5th, no impression
in touch, ridden after 3 out, stayed on one pace
held up last, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden and headway to chase winner after 3 out, pulled up quickly before 2 out, dismounted
mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace
held up in touch, ridden 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
A surprisingly modest event to get things underway with Blue Americo taken to score from Ojays Alibi and Corporate Place. Paul Nicholls is far and away the leading trainer at Wincanton and things seem to have fallen right here for his six-year-old Lord Americo gelding. A good third at Newton Abbot last time behind a useful Martin Pipe performer, he holds an excellent chance here even though a step up in trip will ultimately suit better. Ojays Alibi comes into the reckoning by virtue of the fact that he does at least have some respectable form in the context of this race and the fact that very few have shown any real form to date. These include the Martin Pipe pair and Philip Hobbs runner. Of the others, Noel Chance's Corporate Place showed some ability in one bumper run last season, and three of the five horses that finished ahead of him that day have gone on to win hurdles since. Roofing Spirit is another to have shown a modicum of promise, a similar comment applying to Little Miss Prim, although she has not raced for 764 days. All in all, then, the safest option seems to be to stick with the venue's leading trainer's runner, which is Blue Americo.
