held up in rear, headway after 3 out, no impression soon after 2 out, weakened well before last
held up, steady headway from 5th, driven to chase leaders 2 out, kept on under pressure run-in to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
in touch, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out
led, driven and headed soon after 2 out, weakened rapidly and eased before last
behind, driven along 3 out, stayed on under pressure between last 2, never going pace to trouble leaders
in touch, weakened after 3 out, behind when blundered next
towards rear, driven along 3 out, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, chased winner before last, no impression run-in and lost 2nd near finish
in touch, driven to chase leaders approaching 2 out, weakened well before last
tracked leader to approaching 3 out, weakened soon after next
always behind, ridden 4th, struggling next
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, led soon after 2 out, in command last, driven right out
Nonrunner
There is no doubt that Nous Voila has looked useful in winning his two starts since joining Martin Pipe and is potentially well treated off a mark of 117 but Martin Pipe's gelding faces a potentially top class novice in the shape of Rasharrow, who is the preferred choice with Woody Valentine and Motorway rated the best of the remainder. The selection was arguably the best bumper horse in the country last season with good wins at Wetherby and Ayr either side of a highly creditable third in the Champion Bumper here. Len Lungo's gelding has not been extended to win his two novice hurdles and is potentially well treated for his handicap debut off a mark of 129. Jake Black has more experience than most of these but a 13lb rise for his latest success at Wetherby leaves him with more to do. Critical Stage has a nice racing weight but this looks tougher than the race that he won at Fontwell last time and of more interest may be Dom d'Orgeval, who may be in the grip of the handicapper at present but can be expected to run his usual good race again. Woody Valentine is relatively unexposed and may be open to more improvement than many, while Motorway is set to go up 9lbs in future handicaps following his win in a conditional jockeys' handicap last time. Rasharrow lacks the hurdling experience of many of his rivals but it is interesting that Len Lungo is taking this route with him and he gets the vote to make it three from three over timber.
Borora 66-1 (10-0) Mid-division, lost place approaching 5th, 13th of 19, 16l behind Lingo (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov.
Desert Air (JPN) 20-1 (9-9) Behind, in last position 3 out, still plenty to do approaching last, ran on flat, nearest finish, 7th of 30, 11l behind Fontanesi (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Jake Black (IRE) 5-1 (10-6) Tracked leader, led after 4 out, clear 2 out, driven out flat, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) sft in Nov beating Adopted Hero (11-2) by 9l, 13 ran.
Nous Voila (FR) 10-11fav (11-4) Made all, comfortably, won at Leicester 2m nov hdl (D) sft beating Magnesium (10-12) by 4l, 19 ran.
Dom d'Orgeval (FR) 14-1 (10-4) Held up, headway after 3 out, stayed on well to go 2nd flat, not trouble winner, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Manorson (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (A) gd in Nov.
Always Waining (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) Tracked leader, lost place 3 out, ridden next, hit last, no extra flat, 4th of 9, 7l behind October Mist (9-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in Nov.
Arrayou (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, headway to challenge 3 out, ridden and no impression from next, 5th of 7, 17l behind Nathos (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) hvy in Nov.
Woody Valentine (USA) Evensfav (11-1) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, clear next, eased run-in, won at Southwell 2m 1f hdl (E) gd in May beating Romany Prince (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Crathorne (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, lost place 3 out, soon ridden, no impression when brought down at the last in race won by Covent Garden (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Critical Stage (IRE) 9-4fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, soon clear, hit last, finished tired, won at Fontwell 2m 2f clm hdl (F) gs in Nov beating Shaman (11-0) by 5l, 11 ran.
Motorway (IRE) 5-1 (10-8) Made all, strongly pressed approaching last, ridden and ran on well run-in, won at Newbury 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-130 (E) gd in Nov beating Prairie Moonlight (10-6) by 2l, 9 ran.
Rasharrow (IRE) 1-5fav (11-5) Held up and keen, headway 5th, led approaching last, driven out, won at Ayr 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Nov beating First Look (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 17 ran.
