Past Winners » Wogan

06-Mar-2010

Wogan was impressive in winning a three-mile hurdle at Aintree in May 2008, but he injured himself there and was off the track between then and St Stephen’s Day, when he ran a cracker after such a long absence to finish second to his lesser-fancied stable companion Polyfast in a novices’ handicap chase at Kempton’s King George meeting.

Polyfast hasn’t done much for the form in two runs since, but Wogan progressed nicely again on his only run since, running out an impressive winner of a three-mile handicap chase at Doncaster at the end of January. He travelled well enough through that race, but he got stronger as the race progressed, he stayed the trip really well, and there is every chance that the step up to three and a quarter miles will bring about further improvement. He should be well able for a 9lb hike.

This is a step up in grade, and that is a worry, but he has the right mix of experience and potential for me, a 10-year-old who has run seven times over fences. He obviously likes the track, he should improve for the distance, he will love the ground, and he has a nice racing weight of 10st 2lb. In a race in which a lot of his rivals are being readied for the Grand National, he is over-priced at 6/1.

WOGAN WON (ADV 6/1, SP 5/1)