Dee Ee Williams

Dee Ee Williams put up a nice performance to finish second to Tchico Polos in a two-and-a-quarter-mile novices' chase at Exeter on Tuesday on his chasing debut. Settled in second place behind the runaway leader in the early stages, he travelled well and jumped well for a debutant. However, Tchico Polos, from the Paul Nicholls academy, had already had a run over fences this season, and had run in another chase at the end of last season, and he put his experience and fitness edge to good use to build up a significant lead by the time they reached the top of the home straight. Dee Ee Williams did close the gap over the last three fences, but Tchico Polos had built up such a lead so easily that it was always going to be difficult to catch him. Nevertheless, the Nick Williams-trained gelding kept on well without being punished to take second place, in front of Awesome George and Sunnyhill Boy, who had been well backed.

This was a really encouraging performance from Dee Ee Williams. He was a classy novice hurdler last season, winning at Cheltenham and Ascot before going down by a short head to the highly talented Medermit in a Grade 2 contest back at Ascot. His trainer was considering running him in the Champion Hurdle at one point, but two fairly disappointing runs after that meant that he didn't make it to Cheltenham at all. Tuesday's run was his first since he disappointed in the Dovecote Hurdle at Kempton in February, and he is an exciting novice chaser for this season.

3rd November 2009

© The Irish Field, 7th November 2009

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