I was keen to oppose Mobaasher in the opening juvenile hurdle at Newbury so I was far from delighted to find that he is a non-runner. It has gone from being a simple race to play to a tricky one. At a chunky price I will be having something on Peacock, who showed ability in a run over a mile-and-a-half in the French provinces and again when having his first run for Nigel Twiston-Davies at Cheltenham in December. His jumping was not great but for which he would have finished considerably closer to Katchit. I am sure that the 83 days off will have meant he has had plenty of time for extensive schooling.

Prince Picasso's Irish form ties in with the likes of Clopf and Duty, both not far off the heads of their respective Cheltenham markets so he must be considered, while Addicted's first run at Wincanton entitles him to a good chance although he has since flopped at Kempton. Signs Of Love was 22 lengths clear of the third in a fast time when runner-up at Plumpton, form which makes him the most likely winner so I may save on him.

In the closing conditional handicap hurdle, I don't want to field heavily against Nike Walker, who is due to race off 22lb higher than today's mark in future handicaps but I have a feeling that Supa Tramp is better than he has shown so far and will be having a little on him each-way. Supa Tramp ran really well behind Ned Ludd at Folkestone first time and on his most recent outing he seemed to run into the back of another horse between the final two flights. On the evidence of that first run, there is a race to be won with him so I will be hoping to see a return to that sort of form, if not today, then in subsequent outings.

Eddie Fremantle

Racing Correspondent

The Observer Newspaper