held up and keen, headway and mistake 10th, left poor 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
held up towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 7th
towards rear, weakened from 9th, tailed when pulled up before 3 out
chased winner, hit 8th, weakened from 4 out, held when left 3rd and badly hampered 2 out
held up, unseated rider 7th
held up, chased winner from 8th, 7 lengths down in 2nd when fell 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along approaching 7th, soon lost place
chased leaders, mistake and unseated rider 8th
held up, mistake 1st, pushed along approaching 6th, weakened from 9th, tailed off
Nonrunner
A poor opener where NOBLE BILY may be good enough to beat Ray Mond, while Sparkling Taff can also go well. The last-named is 1lb higher than when putting in a reasonable effort at Market Rasen last time and is still 20lbs lower than when last seen winning, over this trip, at Carlisle a couple of years ago. He goes on any ground and is from a respected yard who could have him right again today. Ray Mond is dropped back markedly in trip, having contested all of his races this season over 3m 2f. He acts on soft ground, though his sole win came on good, but given the shorter trip and his current mark he may be just found wanting. Jacksons Pier is lightly-raced and has been sliding in the weights, but it is not beyond his trainer to find any ability within, and he wouldn't need much to get competitive, though Noble Bily is preferred. Neil King's gelding did at least win last time, although he would not have done so had the leader not fallen at the last. However, trip and ground will suit and he might just grow in confidence from having his head in front, so we will tentatively side with him again.
Noble Bily (FR) 9-2 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway 10th, chased leader approching 2 out, held in 2nd when left in lead last, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan beating The Hardy Boy (9-12) by 6l, 6 ran.
Premier Bleu (FR) 100-1 (11-7) Fell 2nd, in a race won by Afistfullofpebbles (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Day Of Claies (FR) 9-1 (10-13) Soon in touch, lost place 4 out, 6th and beaten when blundered 2 out, 4th of 10, 19l behind Toulouse Express (10-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Sparkling Taff 12-1 (10-3) Chased winner to 7th, ridden and effort 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 4th of 10, 6l behind Toulouse Express (10-1) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Good Parade (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Not fluent, always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Ballymorn (11-4) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Patchoulie Conti (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, weakened from 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Treehouse (11-2) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp 0-90 (5) hvy in Dec, 15 ran.
Ronald Jack (FR) 13-2 (11-5) Towards rear, ridden after 5th, struggling 8th, 7th of 10, 17l behind Ballymorn (11-4) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Jacksons Pier (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Mistake 3rd, always behind, tailed off 10th, soon pulled up, in a race won by PonchaTrain (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp ch 0-95 (5) gs in Jan, 13 ran.
Ray Mond 15-8fav (11-0) Led, headed after 14th, weakened from 4 out, 3rd of 5, well behind Hobb's Dream (9-10) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Iloveturtle (IRE) 150-1 (9-9) Behind, mistake 4th, soon lost touch, never dangerous, last of 11, 49l behind Laughing Game (10-1) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Kercabellec (FR) 10-1 (9-7) Led 3rd to 5th, led 7th to 8th, struggling when hampered 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Woodlands Genpower (11-8) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan, 12 ran.
