led, not fluent 1st, headed 4th, blundered 6th, ridden after 3 out, led 2 out, driven out
jumped left, tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, hit next, ridden after 5th, unable to quicken from 3 out, no impression on front pair, eased towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden when mistake 6th, unable to quicken when mistake 3 out, no impression on front pair
pressed leader, not fluent 1st, mistake 3rd, led next, blundered 6th, wandered after 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, stayed on, held towards finish
Argaum has winning form in better company and was third in a claimer over C&D last month. However, he also held an entry at Exeter yesterday so isn't certain to make the starting line-up here. AVISO blundered and unseated Lee Stephens at Stratford last month and was then well beaten on the Polytrack, but he's back in selling grade for the first time since scoring over C&D in January and should prove hard to beat with a clear round. Smalib Monterg reappears after a break and has his first run for Fergal O'Brien while Nicky Nutjob is only modest and it's not a good sign that Wahan is started off at the lowest level.
Argaum (IRE) 10-3fav (11-0) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon edged left, mistake last, edged left and lost 2nd flat, no extra, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Bin End (11-2) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Aviso (GER) 11-1 (10-10) Towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Traditional Bob (10-12) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Nicky Nutjob (GER) 7-1 (10-4) Held up, headway after 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 8, 34l behind Cruise In Style (10-3) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Smalib Monterg (FR) 16-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, closed into 3rd before straight, not fluent 2 out, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 7th of 18, 6l behind Knockieran (10-11) at Limerick 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-109 in Oct.
Wahan (USA) 17-2 (8-5) Held up towards rear, driven into moderate 6th 2f out, never a factor, 5th of 10, 10l behind Fire King (8-8) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Jul '09 (flat).
