held up, hit 8th, smooth headway 3 out, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, kept on
chased leader, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway after 8th, effort after 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, ridden approaching 8th, kept on same pace from 2 out
mid-division until weakened 8th, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, hit 8th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on again from 2 out, went 3rd near finish
mid-division, headway after 3 out, effort next, kept on same pace
held up, mistake 7th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders until weakened 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
always towards rear
made all, stayed on gamely, ridden out
Nonrunner
Arturio was most impressive when winning on his UK debut and while skinny prices are never the most attractive in handicaps Arturio is a confident selection here ahead of National Trust and Pyleigh Lady. Alloted a mark of 122 at Cheltenham, Arturio is rated 120 today and reverting to hurdles should not pose a problem. National Trust was not disgraced finishing third in a hotly contested Doncaster handicap last time, just lacking the pace of the front two. The step back up in trip will suit and he can shake up the selection. Pyleigh Lady showed reserves of stamina despite a nine month absence last time and is another that will relish the step up in distance. Whether or not an 11lb rise will pose too much remains to be seen but she should come on from that last win. Pocket Aces justified short odds on favouritism last time but this is a much tougher assignment while Stripe Me Blue is unexposed and finished a highly respectable second in what appeared a hot Doncaster novice event last time. Arturio appears leniently treated and can land this en-route to the Cheltenham festival.
Pyleigh Lady 13-2 (11-5) Mid-division, smooth headway after 7th, joined leaders on bit 2 out, led soon after last, ridden out, won at Newbury 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (3) sft in Jan beating Giovanna (11-1) by 1l, 11 ran.
National Trust 9-1 (10-12) Led, headed approaching 3rd, remained prominent, slightly outpaced from 7th, progress 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, not pace of leading pair, 3rd of 20, 4 1/2l behind Mous Of Men (10-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jan.
Ship's Hill (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway after 7th, effort 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up at the last in race won by Nycteos (11-5) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Valiant Shadow (GER) 12-1 (10-8) Mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on, 5th of 14, 11l behind Five Dream (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Cantabilly (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Towards rear, ridden approaching 8th, soon weakened, 6th of 12, well behind Cave of The Giant (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Portland Bill (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake 8th, weakened 12th and pulled up 4 out in race won by Crystal d'Ainay (11-7) at Exeter 2m 7f Grad Ch (2) gs, 10 ran.
Arturio (FR) 5-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, kept on well, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (2) gs in Jan beating Something Wells (10-12) by 6l, 10 ran.
Thunder Rock (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, joined leader after 6th, led 9th, jumped right and headed 12th, soon under pressure and weakened, 3rd of 7, 26l behind Gods Token (10-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov chs (3) gs in Jan.
Dan Buoy (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Led and jumped left, clear 5th, headed and hampered badly 8th, hit 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 12, 24l behind Cave of The Giant (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Herne Bay (IRE) 33-1 (10-1) Always behind, tailed off, 16th of 20, well behind Eden Linty (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Stripe Me Blue 15-2 (10-13) Led, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Crescent Island (11-4) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Khasab (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, effort 2 out, stayed on flat to lead close home, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Jan beating Minster Abbi (9-11) by 2l, 15 ran.
Pocket Aces (IRE) 8-13fav (11-12) Held up, headway 8th, led approaching 2 out, ran on, won at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Jan beating Soixante (11-6) by 5l, 7 ran.
