held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, challenged 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on same pace
with leader, hit 5th, weakened approaching 4 out
prominent, weakened approaching 2 out
held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, weakened approaching and not fluent last
held up, weakening when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
held up towards rear, behind from 4th, struggling from 6 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 6 out, weakened 3 out
prominent, mistake when weakening 5 out
in rear, effort after 5 out, in 6th and held when fell 3 out
made all, stayed on well from last
NOBLE ALAN may have the class to give the weight away to this field although Enfant De Lune, Noble Request and Secret Tune are all interesting opponents. The selection is the apple of his trainer's eye which is little surprise given the manner in which he landed the Scottish Champion Hurdle from Secret Tune in the spring. He was foot perfect on his chase bow at Hexham but fell at Musselburgh when taking off too soon although he may have been distracted by a horse making a bad mistake in front of him. Enfant De Lune didn't go an as expected over hurdles and made just a satisfactory chase debut at Lingfield; he's entitled to come on for that run/experience and can't be ignored. Secret Tune has looked high enough over hurdles having been held in a couple of handicaps already this season so it's no great surprise to see his attention switched to chasing but the yard's form remains a cause for concern. Noble Request was a smart hurdler but he had been absent since December 2006 prior to his return in October and has enough to prove at present. I'm Delilah went close in a handicap on her chase bow and is entitled to improve for the run and does receive plenty of weight but she has plenty to find in terms of class and preference is for Noble Alan.
Noble Alan (GER) 4-9fav (11-2) Held up in rear, fell 3rd, in a race won by Five Dream (11-8) at Aintree 2m nov chs (3) gs in Oct, 4 ran.
Byron Bay 150-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, tailed off from 6th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Reindeer Dippin (11-0) at Hexham 2m nov chs (4) hvy, 9 ran.
Enfant De Lune (FR) 11-4 (11-0) Chased leaders, led on inside well before 3 out, mistake 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened soon after, last of 5, 10l behind Sunnyhillboy (11-0) at Lingfield 2m beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Noble Request (FR) 15-8 (11-1) Not jump well, tracked leaders, chased winner after 4 out until 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 7, 21l behind First Point (11-1) at Ludlow 2m beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Nothingbutthetruth (IRE) 9-2fav (11-12) Held up, headway on outer 7th, chased winner and hit 3 out, every chance next until no extra from last, 2nd of 16, 7l behind For A Dancer (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in May.
Railway Park (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 31l behind Laborec (10-4) at Wetherby 2m 6f cond clm hdl (4yo+) (5) sft in Nov.
Rockiteer (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Held up, raced keenly, ridden and headway after 13th, disputing 2nd but weakening when hit 4 out, 3rd of 6, 37l behind Latanier (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Secret Tune 10-1 (11-7) Keen, tracked leaders, mistake 3 out, soon lost place, 8th of 12, 23l behind Zabeel Palace (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Allegedly Red 100-1 (10-0) Held up in rear and keen, mistakes, never dangerous, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Gansey (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy, 4 ran.
I'm Delilah 9-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, steady headway 4 out, challenged last, kept on and every chance flat, ridden and no extra near finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Bob's Dream (10-13) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
