MARKET RASEN, July 7 (Good) 2m1f43yds (+129yds) 0-100 Novices' Handicap Chase (class 5)
At first glance it appears that either or both of the switch to fences and acquisition of cheekpieces has newly enabled DON OCCHETTI to start registering place finishes, an improved near-31 third to the in-form Clean Getaway this time following on from a wider-margin second behind the same rival over identical ground and C&D a month beforehand.
The argument that progeny by Presenting tend to prefer sound or quicker surfaces has often proved compelling throughout the late, great stallion's covering career, however, and this April foal from his final crop (2018) had duly struggled to compete on easy or slow ground across last winter.
One of two notable regards in which the 6yo does defy his breeding is the ease with which he has taken to jumping the larger obstacles, somewhat at variance with a strongly Flat-oriented pedigree despite Triumph Hurdle hero Countrywide Flame numbering among the dam's siblings.
The other is in the apparent need for an intermediate jumps trip granted a conducive surface, previous struggles at 2m4f recognisable with hindsight as more to do with ground rather than trip.
WORCESTER, July 8 (Good) 2m7f (+272yds) 0-110 Handicap Chase (class 4)
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