in touch, tracked leaders from 5th, chased winner approaching 4 out, soon ridden, 3 lengths down and held when blundered last
chased leaders until 6th, hit 8th, behind when mistake next, pulled up before 4 out
held up, headway and hampered 10th, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
led 2nd until 5th, with winner until 10th, weakening when pecked 3 out
held up, mistake 7th, soon behind, pulled up after 8th
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 9th, 5 lengths 3rd when fell 10th
jumped right throughout, led, headed and mistake 2nd, led 5th, hit 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, left clear last
Armen will not have many better opportunities to open his account over fences but Martin Pipe's gelding has looked unreliable in his last two starts and preference is for another ex-French gelding Lou du Moulin Mas, who gets the vote over Lesdream. The last mentioned showed progressive form over hurdles last season and trainer Jimmy Frost has wasted no time in putting the son of Morpeth over the larger obstacles this term. He has to be respected, along with Jeff King's Wartorn, who also makes his debut over fences today. Celtic Star and Ross Leader are others to consider but for the vote we side with Lou Du Moulin Mas. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding has shown enough in two starts in novice chases to suggest that a race of this nature would be well within his compass and the five-year-old is the selection to make the most of the weight that he receives.
