Pickamus

Pickamus put up a nice performance to win a decent Class 3 two-and-a-half-mile novices’ chase at Ludlow on Thursday. Sent to the front from early by Andrew Tinkler, the grey French-bred gelding jumped really well, if a little to his left up the home straight first time, and had his rivals under pressure from a long way out. He kicked on around the home turn as Carlitos and Song Sung Blue gave chase as the Nicky Henderson-trained favourite Polyfast weakened disappointingly, jumped the last two fences well and won well, eased down, ears pricked.

Henry Daly’s gelding, found wanting over two miles on easy ground at Doncaster behind Bleak House on his previous run, he appreciated the step back up to two and a half miles and the better ground here. Both of his wins over fences have now been gained at right-handed tracks, but he should be even better going left-handed, given that he jumped to his left a little. An easy two and a half miles where he can dominate suits him well, He is a progressive sort and, although the handicapper will probably give him a bit of a hike for this, he has run just three times over fences, he is an improving seven-year-old, and it could pay to follow him now when he has his conditions.

4th March 2010