BALLABRIGGS     (D. McCain)

7 year old bay gelding     (Presenting - Papoose)     50228-6S22F

Normal people, in normal circumstances, should be avoiding horses with four seconds in nine races like they would a rabid dog because the two types of animal are often closer than nature intended, but perhaps there is something a bit more forgivable about the way Ballabriggs has approached not yet winning. In a couple of novice hurdles he was rallying all the way to the line, but did not quite get there. Both were on galloping tracks, over two and a half miles on soft ground. Later hurdle tries on better going (OK) and sharp tracks (much poorer) failed to match the form. That sharp track concern was repeated on his chase debut, where Ballabriggs slipped up on the turn at Bangor, but he bounced back to be second at Haydock (two and a half miles on heavy) to previous winner Just For Men. The latest try was at Catterick, so therefore doomed from the outset, but he did give Wee Forbees a little to think about. Having established that there are course and going issues, a step up to three miles would do no harm either.

STOP PRESS: Had a short lived attempt at just shy of three miles at Leciester. The Racing Post racereader was obviously in slightly anarchic mood and deviated from the comments in running conventions with: 'slipped into first, where fell and caused mayhem.' That is providing insight instead of platitudes, and in the same race, President Hill got the note: 'sulking furiously and constant reminders, soon tailed himself off, pull up after eighth.' Great stuff, and I would only question whether it is possible to sulk furiously?

Handicap chases over 2m 7f or more, on a galloping track on soft or heavy

CAPE GREKO     (B. G. Powell)

6 year old roan gelding     (Loup Sauvage - Onefortheditch)     331140

Having broached the subject of rabid dogs with Ballabriggs, the next selection was begat by a savage wolf, which just shows how themes can force themselves on you inexorably. Which proves (possibly) that the writers of Torchwood are trying to produce something witty and fascinating but cannot help the drivel that comes out. Cape Greko is overall a more Dickensian character, struggling to overcome the adversity of winning at little regarded Sedgefield and Fontwell when trying to be taken seriously with the rich nobs at Cheltenham and Newbury. Alas, he went to Cheltenham for the Jewson Final at the October meeting, which is almost a pre-season friendly by that track's standards. Although only beaten five lengths or so into fourth, it was overall a modest race, with the runners only managing two subsequent wins between them. At Newbury, on softer ground than previously tried, the least said, the better. So what is proven is that Cape Greko seems to like fastish ground, and making the running on a sharp track. Easier chances will come, as Liverpool consoled themselves after playing Havant & Waterlooville.

Handicap hurdles on good/good to firm/firm, up to 2m 3f, on a sharp track

GOBEJOLLY     (B. I. Case)

5 year old bay mare     (Exit To Nowhere - Ollejess)     40-54

After a promising hurdles debut in November, Gobejolly has gone AWOL, possibly off being jolly somewhere, as per instructions, but an itchy trigger finger about putting her on the list results in her making it for February. For her first ever race, she ran well in slowly run mares bumper that has worked out well, took a huge backward step on heavy ground at Sandown afterwards, and then had a so-so effort after eight months off at Lingfield. Of the three in front of her in the one try over obstacles, the winner has since been placed twice, the runner-up won her only try and the third pulled up from a rating of just 89. Assuming the line that was used to rate the third is still valid, Gobejolly could end up on a mark in the mid-80s and she certainly seems capable to taking advantage of that.

Handicap hurdles over 2m 3f to 2m 6f on good to soft/good, rated up to 105

In Gobejolly's world, even getting from paddock to start is an opportunity for great merriment. Rider Sam Jones appears to be erring on the side of caution.

NEAR GERMANY      (R. Curtis)

8 year old bay gelding     (Germany - Night Year)     PP0F-P5

Formerly decent on the flat, in Germany predictably, Near Germany did lose his way in that sphere before coming to the UK. He has shown some spark on the level here as well, but things have been a far from smooth path over jumps. The main problem has been an inclination for the horse to go as fast as he possibly can for as long as he possibly can. That far seems to be about a mile and a quarter, which is a complete non-starter for hurdles. However, in his last two runs, Near Germany has been much calmer, pulling up after a spell absent from action and then running respectably at Folkestone, where 2m 1.5f on soft might have stretched his staying power. He is handicapped to have a bash at some modest targets in the near future, but he does tend to drift to the right under pressure. There are so many jaded German jibes to available to follow that, but of course, being Near Germany makes him Dutch, Belgian, French, Letzeburgish, Swiss, Austrian, Czech, Polish or Danish.

Novice or selling handicap hurdles on a right handed track, up to 2m 1f not on soft or heavy.

Near Germany strolls round the Folkestone paddock with stereotypical Teutonic precision. Ten yards later he spotted a leaf out of place and gave the groundsman a serious talking to.

OGEE      (Mrs. P. Robeson)

5 year old chesnut gelding     (Generous - Aethra)     64

A triple flat winner at up to 1m 6f, Ogee joined his current yard with decent credentials for hurdling, and when he managed only sixth on his hurdles debut, the horses in front of him indicated that it was nothing to be too concerned about. Khyber Kim, Theatre Girl, Helens Vision, Hells Bay and First Point looked to be where it's at in the realm of novice hurdling. Alas, the three runs that the placed horses have produced since are all defeats - and only Theatre Girl's may have constituted a step forward. Hells Bay and First Point are yet to reappear, but Ogee carried the flag with some honour at Huntingdon, where he was fourth under patient tactics that probably did not suit him as a stayer trying two miles on a speed track. Clearly capable of winning, he seems to want to go right handed on occasions, and maybe the plan is to repeat what worked for him on the flat - learn the game at shorter trips and take a step up in distance when ready for handicaps! Which was not in anyway underhand, just a bright last minute idea.

Hurdles over 2m 4f or more on a right handed track

SUPREME CARA     (C. J. Down)

8 year old bay mare     (Morpeth - Supreme Daughter)     4831/3431-236

Supreme Cara almost blotted her copybook for inclusion by running in a Grade 2 race last time. Fortunately it was only for mares and although she was beaten only a dozen lengths, there probably was not enough strength in depth within in for anyone to get too rash for her future campaign. Her wins have been a bumper on soft at Fontwell, quite a stiff bumper test as the minimum trip is more than two and a quarter miles, and a three mile plus novice hurdle on heavy at Warwick. Prior to the last race Supreme Cara had tried a couple of novice chases, in which she had failed to achieve supremacy, in one case very, very narrowly, and gave reason to think handicap chases would be of interest. But given that relatively few horses relish the circumstances, she always has long distance hurdles in the mud to fall back on. In fact, where other horses sometimes need a pony or a sheep as a travelling companion (and they must be quite dim if they cannot tell the difference), Supreme Cara has a pile of wet clay.

Races over three miles or more on soft or heavy