made virtually all, kept on well run-in, driven out
in rear, lost place from 7th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 12th
tracked leaders in 3rd, chased winner before 4 out, kept on run-in, always held
in touch, reminders after 13th, mistake 15th weakened 4 out
with winner until 5 out, weakened next
PAINT THE CLOUDS is a top-class hunter chaser and will be trying to do better than his third in last year’s Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham next month if all goes to plan here. He’s won this prep race for the past two years and is difficult to oppose again with the vastly-experienced Sam Waley-Cohen on board. Ardea has won his last five between the flags and won twice under Rules at Hexham but found Galway Jack too good at Wetherby and that form shouldn’t be good enough to trouble the favourite. One More Tune hasn’t shown much in point-to-points this winter but sill makes more appeal than Arkose and Harris.
Paint The Clouds 2-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, tracked leader 2nd, led 4 out, clear from 2 out, stayed on well from last, won at Stratford 3m 4f (2) gd in May beating Marito (12-0) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Harris (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Trckd ldrs til outpcd aft 15, 4th of 5, 15 1/4l behind Damiens Dilemma (11-0) at Friars Haugh 3m gs in Jan.
Ardea (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Held up behind, headway to chase clear pair 9th, close up 11th, went 2nd 6 out, ridden after 4 out, 2 lengths down last, edged right flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Galway Jack (11-10) at Wetherby 3m (6) sft in Feb.
Arkose (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) (cp) a.p; led 15-3 out; wknd app last, 2nd of 11, 12l behind Warden Hill (12-5) at Thorpe Lodge 3m gs in Jan.
One More Tune (IRE) 5-1 (12-5) (cp) held up; hdwy 9; rdn & wknd aft 3 out, 5th of 7, 35 1/2l behind One Conemara (12-5) at Sheriff Hutton 3m in Jan.
