pulled hard in rear, jumped right throughout, headway to track leaders 4th, under pressure 4 out, mistake 2 out, kept on to go modest 2nd, no chance with winner
chasing leaders when fell 8th
tracked leader, mistake 8th, led after 13th, headed approaching 4 out, weakened before 2 out, modest 3rd when blundered and unseated rider last
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, hampered next, led approaching 2 out, drew clear last, readily
in touch towards rear, detatched 6th, tailed off 9th, behind when pulled up before 11th
led until after 13th, remained prominent, ridden to lead approaching 4 out, headed before 2 out, weakening when pulled up before last
The Cider Maker has been sent off market leader in his last four starts but remains winless and has become expensive to follow. Bridal Suite won off a higher mark around this time last year but he's not performed to that level so far this season. Generous Helpings may do better back over hurdles, however, and is preferred to the first-time blinkered Darkestbeforedawn and Molly Oscar, who is out of sorts. But ARTHAMINT looks the one to be on if he can reproduce the form he's been showing over fences now switched back to the smaller obstacles.
Arthamint 3-1 (11-5) Took keen hold in last, not fluent and pecked 7th, headway 4 out, well beaten 5th before 2 out, plugged on and took 4th flat, 4th of 6, 10 1/4l behind Pandy Wells (10-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Generous Helpings (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Towards rear, headway from 4 out, unseated rider 3 out, at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Darkestbeforedawn (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden after 11th, soon outpaced, never on terms, 6th of 14, 20 1/2l behind Tea Caddy (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
The Cider Maker 3-1fav (11-12) Tracked leading trio, went right 1st, tracked leading pair 4th, pushed along before 4 out, held when mistake next, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 6, 37l behind Ya Hafed (10-7) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Bridal Suite (IRE) 11-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway approaching 8th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 14, 20 1/4l behind Flemi Two Toes (10-5) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Molly Oscar (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, weakened from 12th, soon pulled up, at Fontwell 3m 1f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.