Looking at the five day declarations earlier in the week, I'd identified a couple running in bumpers that were of some interest while everyone else was concentrating on the Flat.
Oliver Sherwood has his team in good form at the moment and Luci Di Mezzanotte's head second to The Pirate Queen from the Alan King yard last time read well. King's inmate finished fifth in the Aintree listed mares' bumper on her previous run. Luci had an entry in the Bangor bumper at 4.50 on Saturday but it looks as though Fergal O'Brien's previous winner Down Ace has scared her off...
Peter Bowen's Rolling Maul held a couple of weekend options at Uttoxeter and Stratford on Sunday but the handler has decided to take up neither - instead Bowen sends The Road Ahead to the Warwickshire track where Prideofthecastle from David Pipe's stable is likely to provide a stern test.
It's also worth noting that Propsect Wells, well beaten behind Zarkander in the Aintree Hurdle last time, tries fences for the first time on Stratford's card.
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Down Ace (9/4f) made all from the front to win at Bangor while Prideofthecastle (5/2) beat The Road Ahead (15/8f) at Stratford, the favourite looking a little unfortunate after veering left, losing momentum and almost hitting a wing inside the final furlong.
Prospect Wells was a non-runner.
I personally was a tad surprised to see Prospect Wells entered in a Novice Chase. He has never struck me as a likely chaser in the making. Will be very interested to watch him when entered over the larger obstacles next time. Without having seen him jump in public I would be surprised if he were to make the grade in his new sphere...
Ben (NTF)
Hi Ben,
Good to hear from you.
Yes, must admit I wasn't too surprised when he was eventually scratched but I'm guessing they want to go novice chasing now.
If fencing is potentially a problem, perhaps the thinking is to start at a smaller track where the larger obstacles won't be quite so stiff?
As you say, we shall watch his chasing debut with interest...
PG
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