FOURBALL makes a good deal of appeal here although All Roads Lead and Valentia Island have to be rated as dangers. The selection was having his first run for a year and his first for the yard when finishing a distant third over this course and distance in a handicap chase. He lines up over hurdles on a 4lb lower mark and is partnered by a jockey who has enjoyed success in similar contests for the yard this season. Winged D'Argent has been quite highly tried since winning on debut but should find this company more to his liking and he's worth considering. Upright Ima is a pretty consistent sort who is capable of being involved although the best of her form has been over shorter and this could stretch her with conditions testing. All Roads Lead drops back in trip on his first run for Heather Dalton; he has something to prove on the ground and is still a maiden but is worth a market check. Another that needs monitoring for support is Valentia Island who has just had a couple of starts for Gary Moore since arriving from Ireland. He has shown ability and has been sent off at relatively short prices for his two starts for his new yard and is definitely one of the more interesting contenders. Fourball was a real eyecatcher last time though and everything appears to be in place for a big run so he gets the nod.
Fourball (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, ridden 3 out, went 3rd last, weakened flat, 3rd of 12, 15l behind Busy Isit (11-4) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Spare Me 8-1 (11-1) Led to 2nd, remained prominent, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 14, 14l behind Celticello (11-3) at Leicester 2m 4f sll hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Winged d'Argent (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) In touch, frequent reminders, hit 3rd, ridden after next, went 4th approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 16, 35l behind Belcantista (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Hero Again (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Behind from 3rd, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Tender Falcon (11-3) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 16 ran.
Hereditary 25-1 (11-0) In rear, some headway when mistake 3 out, no further progress, 7th of 18, 22l behind Lady Pilot (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Querido (USA) 33-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders and raced wide, weakened 7th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Six Day War (11-6) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Quasimodo (GB) 4-1 (10-10) Behind from 6th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Magnifico (9-12) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Mar, 6 ran.
All Roads Lead (IRE) 17-2 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway after 3rd, challenged from 2 out, ridden and edged left flat, ran on towards finish, 2nd of 8, shd behind Chunky Lad (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Mars Rock (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 11th of 16, well behind Sexy Rexy (11-11) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Nov.
Valentia Island (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 33l behind Apollo Creed (11-6) at Southwell 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Green 'n' Gold 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, ridden 8th, soon weakened, 6th of 15, well behind Mighty Fine (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jul '07.
Upright Ima 12-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, one pace from next, 5th of 16, 13l behind Lawgiver (11-1) at Catterick 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
River Phantom (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Held up, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, well behind Victorias Groom (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Danse Macabre (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Mistakes, behind, hit 5th and next, tailed off when tried to refuse and refused at the 9th in race won by Mr Big (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 5f cnd hcp chs (5) gd, 14 ran.
Gunnadoit (USA) 2-1 (9-9) Always behind, 6th of 7, well behind Snake Charmer (11-6) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
