Flic Ou Voyou

Flic Ou Voyou put up a good performance to finish second in the good novices’ handicap hurdle that opened proceedings at Sandown last Saturday. After lining up in the front rank and wide, he made a mistake at the first flight, with the result that he had to settle just behind the front rank. He was wider than ideal around the first bend and into the back straight, but he travelled well out wide and, despite making two slight errors in the back straight, he was able to lie up with the pace easily enough. Wide again as they left the back straight, he travelled well into the home straight, and he looked a likely winner when he moved on on the run to the second last flight. Favourite On To Victory came under pressure at that point, but Herbiers moved up well on the far side and, ultimately, Flic Ou Voyou couldn’t repel his challenge. Even so, Paul Nicholls’ horse kept on well enough to finish second, nicely clear of On To Victory in third.

It was a good run by Flic Ou Voyou in a race that didn’t pan out ideally for him. He couldn’t get to the front, and he was wider than ideal, but he still did best of the prominent racers. He should do better next time he faces less competition for the lead than he did here. He goes well at Kempton and Wincanton and, importantly, he goes well on good ground, so he will be of interest if he runs again now this spring. The handicapper raised him by just 3lb for this, which was fair. He will be of interest again now off his new mark of 138.
Sandown, 24^th April 2021