chased leader, hit 5th, blundered 13th, challenged and blundered 5 out, led 4 out, narrowly headed 2 out, stayed on same pace last, no extra flat
led, reminder 7th, headed 4 out, lost 2nd next, weakened after 2 out
took keen hold early, settled 3rd, pushed along and slightly outpaced before 5 out, headway to 2nd 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, in command when hit last, driven out
Fruity O' Rooney has taken well to fences and looks likely to run his race once again. However, most of his best form has been delivered on soft-heavy ground and he looks to have quite a task on his hands asked to concede weight all round. WINTERWOOD makes most appeal in receipt of 4lb from the aforementioned, especially having shown his best fencing form last time when just failing to reel in the winner in a competitive Newbury handicap. Paul Nicholls sends Valentine Vic over fences for the first time and this lightly-raced sort has to be of interest in receipt of the allowances, not to mention Ian Popham's claim. He presumably has had training troubles though.
Fruity O'Rooney 5-4fav (11-3) Made all, strongly challenged 4 out, hard ridden approaching 2 out, hard pressed from last, stayed on well under pressure, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (2) gs in Feb beating Sarando (11-3) by nk, 4 ran.
Moleskin (IRE) 9-2fav (11-5) Mid-division and of the pace, ridden and struggling 12th, tailed off 15th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Dashing George (11-7) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Valentine Vic (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) With leader, led narrowly 3rd, headed 4 out, soon lost place, weakened 3 out, behind when fell next, in a race won by Stow (10-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb, 12 ran.
Winterwood (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place before 7th, headway 4 out, effort when slow last, stayed on under pressure closing stages, just failed, 2nd of 8, ns behind Bai Zhu (11-12) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Not So Prudent (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Led until 5th, jumped badly left and blundered next, 2 lengths down when blundered and unseated rider 11th, in a race won by Galaxy Rock (11-4) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) hvy in Mar, 4 ran.
