soon prominent, hit 6th. 4th and weakening when fell 4 out
hampered 1st, held up, headway 12th, led going well 3 out, comfortably, dismounted after line
held up, behind from 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
left in lead 2nd, headed next, chased leader after, blundered 9th, weakened 12th, tailed off
left in lead 1st, mistake and unseated rider 2nd
held up and took team hold, headway 6th, hit 13th and 14th, soon weakened
led until fell 1st
led 3rd, ridden approaching 4 out, headed 3 out, no extra from last
held up, hampered 1st, weakened approaching 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
prominent and took keen hold, lost place 8th, weakened 10th, pulled up before 11th
mistakes, held up, headway 13th, mistake 3 out, weakened last
Armen is the pick here, with Undeniable, Bunkum and L'Orphelin put up as the main dangers. Martin Pipe's seven-year-old has already had five outings over fences and the penny should drop sooner or later. It has to be said that he did not jump too well when beaten by Lou Du Moulin Mas at Newton Abbot, but he was clear of the third that day and is worth sticking with against this opposition. Undeniable won off a mark of 113 over hurdles at Market Rasen in March and is sure to have been well schooled for his chase debut, while Bunkum has been campaigned over the bigger obstacles all year without success and the drying ground will probably count against him. L'Orphelin will need to jump better than he has done as well, and although he is by no means a confident choice, Armen should prove up to the task.
