held up in rear, smooth headway 2 out, led flat, pushed out
with leader, pushed along 4 out, outpaced after next
towards rear, never dangerous
in touch, headway 3 out, every chance 2 out and last, kept on under pressure flat
towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden and effort after 2 out, kept on one pace flat
in touch, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, no extra approaching last
tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed flat, no extra towards finish
led, headed 3 out, no extra approaching last
Old Nosey has shown enough lately to warrant support in receipt of weight from the likes of St Matthew and Irish raider Davids Lad. The latter, much better known as a chaser and 11th in this year's Martell Cognac Grand National, is able to race off a hurdles mark of 112 here and so is thrown in compared to his form over fences. His last win over timber though was at Galway in 2001 and the ground was testing as well, so Tony Martin's ten-year-old, who has lacked his old sparkle this term, is worth opposing. Old Nosey needs fast ground and the recent dry spell will be in his favour. Bruce McTaggart's charge ran a solid race when second to Tony The Piler at Perth last week when he was running on at the finish, and although he does not win as often as he should, is not that badly handicapped and can go close. St Matthew was having his first outing for Sue Smith when falling at Wetherby recently, but as he had been off for over a year since leaving George Moore's yard, he should now strip a lot fitter. Political Sox has not got a lot of improvement to come at the age of ten, while Tobesure normally flatters to deceive, so all in all the feeling is that Old Nosey has his best chance yet of returning to winning ways.
