tracked leader, hampered 2nd, led 14th until 16th, hit 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, hit 4 out, challenged 2 out, ridden into narrow advantage approaching last, left clear
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, led approaching 2 out, narrowly headed when blundered badly last, not recover and lost 2nd near finish
led, jumped left 2nd, hit 6th, mistake and headed 14th, soon ridden, led 16th, headed approaching 2 out, stayed on, regained 2nd near finish
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
This looks to be a match on paper between Strong Coffee and VALLEY RIDE and we will side with the latter. Both Oliver Sherwood and David Arbuthnot have their strings in tremendous form at present and the selection capitalised on the form of Compton-based Arbuthnot with a win at Fakenham that rather slipped under the radar with the Cheltenham Gold Cup going on elsewhere. This trip and a sound surface suit, although he is unproven on ground this quick. The same can be said of chief rival Strong Coffee, who has won twice on good ground at Southwell but has been out of sorts on his last two starts. A break since New Year's Day plus the better form of his yard may well see him go close this time. Baren De Doc caught a tartar in Peter Pole last time and is yet another who has to prove he handles these conditions. Keith Goldsworthy's runners are going well enough and he could make the frame. Quattrocento acts well on fast ground and looks capable of getting involved, but Silly Wupple and Hivikos could both be in better form and preference is for Valley Ride.
Strong Coffee 28-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, not fluent 7th, headway 14th, reminders 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 13, well behind Rambling Minster (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Valley Ride (IRE) 4-11fav (11-0) Held up in touch, left 2nd at 12th, led soon after 2 out, idled flat, shaken up and ran on towards finish, won at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gs beating Pairc Na Gcapall (10-9) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Quattrocento (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division, weakening when mistake 7th, tailed off, 12th of 16, well behind Cashel Blue (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Baren De Doc (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) In touch, ridden from 13th, took poor 2nd last, 2nd of 12, 17l behind Peter Pole (11-12) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Silly Wupple 20-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, jumped right 1st, headway to chase leaders 12th, weakened after 14th, 4th of 9, 29l behind Nicto De Beauchene (10-10) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs (3) sft.
Hivikos (FR) 5-2 (11-9) Held up, ridden and lost place after 10th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Picts Hill (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft, 5 ran.
