Luke Scott never looked 100% confident in the saddle on Mountain Mike, but he was making his challenge when he was badly hampered.
I highly doubt that he was going to win the race, but he was given no chance when the leader at the time came across him as they jumped the fence and caused a massive interference.
After that jump, he had to get the revs going, and he couldn't get back to the speed he was previously at.
Greyval was given no chance from the start. Once again, another jockey wanted to go five wide, and from that point, it was best to turn the race off. She covered more ground than any horse in the race. In hindsight, she would never have beaten the winner, but she could have been placed if she had cut the corners, rather than going widest all race.
Fever Dream 3/1 (2.5pt) – Perth 2.05
I don't know for certain if Fever Dream will stay the marathon trip for this Highland National Handicap Chase, but if he can repeat her run from Warwick, I think he gives herself every chance of landing the prize.
There was a strong amount of money on him last time out, and whenever that happens from the Christian Williams stable, you need to take notice. I backed the runner-up, and I thought he had a very good chance of winning that race, so I rate the form highly.
It's strange that he put up a career-best performance on his 15th start over fences, but it seems that he handles fast ground better than most. The weather forecast is dry, which should mean he'll be fine on Friday's ground, despite them deciding to water.
The way she travelled at Warwick, and won on the bridle, made it look like a horse that was a far way ahead of their handicap mark. The handicapper has put him up 8lbs for the win, which seems about right, but if he stays the trip, he'll still have some in hand.
With him winning emphatically last time out, I was expecting shorter odds than 3/1, and probably bordering on 15/8. I'd imagine that he will be fancied in the market, due to Christian Williams being very popular for these races, with his record in similar events speaking for itself.
He is already a course winner from a couple of years ago, which is another box-ticking exercise. I don't see any negatives against him, apart from the trip, which is an unknown.
GambleAware