led until after 1st, stayed pressing leader, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, weakened last
in touch, jumped right 2nd, mistakes 5th, 6th and 7th, blundered and hampered 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
held up, steady headway from 10th, went close 2nd approaching last, not quicken flat
prominent, lost place 8th, weakening when jumped slowly 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
soon well behind, pulled up before 5th
led after 1st, not fluent 9th, ridden and headed after 2 out, relegated to 3rd before last, weakened flat
held up and behind, went 6th but no chance approaching 3 out, jumped right last
held up mid-division, headway to track leaders going well from 7th, led after 2 out, ridden and stayed on flat
mid-division, raced keenly, struggling 7th, lost touch before next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
prominent when hit 2nd and unseated rider
mid-division, hampered 2nd, ridden and lost place 5th, blundered 6th, behind when tried to refuse and unseated rider 7th
tracked leaders, close 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
in rear, headway approaching 8th, driven before 3 out, weakened approaching last
ran out 1st
A race that won't take much winning and preference is for Armoury House ahead of Furze Hill and Opal Ridge. The selection is unexposed over fences and ran his best race to date when beaten into a two-length third at Lingfield. The drop in trip should not be a problem today and as long as the ground doesn't get too soft (best form on good/faster), then he should run a big race. Furze Hill is yet to win in seven starts but he has shown ability and this could turn out to be his optimum trip as he doesn't seem to stay further or quite have the pace for two miles. Ice Cream needs to improve his jumping before he becomes a player, comments that also apply to Lockstone Lad and top-weight Opal Ridge. Roaringwater was well-fancied at Chepstow last time in a seller and whilst he didn't run a bad race, you would be hard-pressed to make out a rock-solid case for him. At a price, a back-to-form Baron Blitzkrieg would be a player, however it is Armoury House who gets the tentative nod.
Opal Ridge 7-1 (10-4) Chased leaders until 6th, ridden after 8th, not much room after 4 out, soon outpaced, 5th of 9, 18l behind Cleymor House (9-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Better Together 33-1 (11-7) Blundered 1st, mid-division, ridden and hit 8th, soon weakened, 8th of 14, 36l behind Premier Des Marais (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Baron Blitzkrieg 14-1 (9-11) Held up behind leaders, ridden after 11th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Wizard of Edge (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
Jacarado (IRE) 13-2 (10-2) Chased leaders until 5th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Master Somerville (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Mar, 12 ran.
Ice Cream (FR) 16-1 (10-0) Held up, towards rear when fell at the 9th in race won by River Indus (10-6) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Roaringwater (IRE) 4-1fav (11-9) Prominent, led 8th, headed 12th, soon ridden, one pace from next, 3rd of 12, 15l behind Arceye (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 3f sll hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Mar.
Signature Tune (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Always in rear, 10th of 11, 35l behind Green Gamble (10-13) at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Feb.
Armoury House 7-2fav (10-11) In touch, headway 9th, mistake 12th, led 4 out, ridden when headed 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Ilongue (10-0) at Lingfield 3m nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gf in Nov.
Judy The Drinker 33-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway before 6th, weakened 3 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Jaunty Flight (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan, 16 ran.
Lockstone Lad (USA) 14-1 (10-1) Chased leader, ridden 4 out, weakening when fell 4 out in race won by Farmer's Lad (11-12) at Taunton 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Feb, 8 ran.
Moonlight Music (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up, mistake 3rd, never dangerous, 8th of 11, 20l behind Green Gamble (10-13) at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Feb.
Furze Hill (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders and jumped right throughout, ridden 9th and outpaced, kept on to take poor 2nd last, 2nd of 8, 6l behind The Walnut Tree (10-4) at Plumpton 2m 1f sll hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Mar.
Heartofmidlothian (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, mistake 10th, weakening when jumped slowly next, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Wednesday Country (11-1) at Southwell 2m 4f cnd hcp chs (5) gf, 13 ran.
Log On Intersky (IRE) 100-1 (9-7) Led 3rd until 7th, weakened from 5 out, 8th of 15, 45l behind Ballyvaden (10-2) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
