in touch, driven to chase leading pair and mistake 2 out, weakened before last
pulled hard, held up in rear, smooth headway approaching 3 out, chased leader next, upsides last, driven out flat
made most, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened
keen hold and always behind
chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, weakened quickly next
took keen hold, held up in mid-division, headway before 3 out, led and wandered 2 out, driven last, headed flat
always in rear, tailed off when blundered 2 out
with leader until ridden after 5th, weakened well before 3 out
held up well in rear, blundered 2nd and 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
not fluent, chased leaders until mistake and weakened 3 out
held up in rear, steady headway from 3 out, shaken up, no extra from next
Armariver, Eleazar and Sunshine Rays are three against the field in this trappy novices hurdle and the vote is given to Armariver. The selection was a fair third behind Good Samaritan last time out, that form has since been franked and as he looks sure to come on for the run he looks the one to be on. Eleazar rates the main danger on his latest fourth behind Mikado, he is another that is sure to improve and should be noted in the market. Sunshine Rays won a bumper on his only start to date and is sure to have been well schooled for this his hurdling debut but the suspicion is he may just need the run after a 543 day absence and for that reason he is opposed. Cold Turkey was a fair sort on the flat and hails from a shrewd yard so is another to note in the market but in a race where the market will be very informative for the winner we return to Armariver
Armariver (FR) 6-4fav (10-11) Mid-division, headway 7th, every chance approaching 2 out, soon ridden, weakened last, 3rd of 15, 9l behind Good Samaritan (10-11) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hdl (D) gs in Oct.
Cold Turkey 7-2 (10-0) Held up in touch, improved over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Garden Society (9-7) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Oct (Flat).
Hatteras (FR) 14-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, joined winner 4th until next, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 7, 34l behind Soleil Fix (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (E) sft.
Kings Signal (USA) 9-1 (10-12) In touch, staying on when fell at the last in race won by Mikado Melody (10-12) at Lingfield 2m nov hdl (E) sft in Oct, 16 ran.
Mr Ex (ARG) 8-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, hit 3rd, ridden and effort after 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 7, 21l behind Soleil Fix (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (E) sft.
Turtle Patriarch (IRE) 14-1 (8-4) Always towards rear, 11th of 16, 23l behind Daring Affair (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 2f app hcp (5) sft in Oct (Flat).
Eleazar (GER) 6-1 (11-0) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 15, 9l behind Mikado (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (F) gs in Oct.
Sunshine Rays 3-1 (10-10) In touch, good headway to lead 4f out, ridden 2f out, kept on well, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nhf (H) gf in May '04 beating The Game Is There (11-4) by 2l, 11 ran.
