held up in rear, pushed along after 12th, reminder before 15th, no chance 4 out, tailed off
held up in touch, challenged 13th, every chance 4 out, mistake 3 out, beaten when jumped left 2 out, soon edged right and weakened
led, martingale loose by 1st, headed next, lost place 4th, jumped slowly 6th, back in touch 10th, reminders 11th, not fluent 15th, soon behind
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, led approaching 13th, headed next, outpaced 4 out, hampered after 2 out, rallied to chase winner last, stayed on flat
raced keenly, in touch, led 14th, ridden after 2 out, all out
sometimes jumped right, led 2nd, headed approaching 13th, outpaced after 4 out, rallied last, stayed on flat
BONNE NOEL'S is hard to oppose after his Fakenham romp earlier this month and is selected over James Pine, Itzacliche and Newbay Bob. Forty-two lengths was the official winning distance for the selection last time and he has just a 4lb winners' penalty accordingly. This ex-Irish trained gelding is still relatively lightly-raced for his age and having bounced off the fast ground when winning in Norfolk, this ground should see him attack his fences once again. Itzacliche was a game winner at Market Rasen and goes well for her owner-rider Joey Richards, especially under these conditions, James Pine was a Cheltenham winner a year ago and should strip fitter for a recent outing at Andoversford earlier this month, whilst Celtic Boy returns to the track after 529 days off and needs watching in the betting. Nick Mitchell's Newbay Bob is one of the more consistent in the line-up and may find this track more to his liking than Towcester last time, but in an open race we are happy to plump for Bonne Noel's.
Itzacliche (IRE) 7-4 (12-1) Held up, headway from 4 out, led approaching last, kept on, won at Market Rasen 3m 1f hts chs (6) gd beating Celestial Dragon (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Bonne Noel's (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) In touch, chased leader 9th, led 12th, soon clear, unchallenged, won at Fakenham 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) gd beating Whatadifference (11-10) by 42l, 5 ran.
James Pine (IRE) 5-4 (12-7) Led 10-11 & 13 til hdd 3 out; one pce, 2nd of 3, 8l behind Fergal's Find (12-0) at Andoversford 3m ptp.
Cash In Hand (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Led to 9th, mistake 11th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 10, 36l behind Back Nine (11-13) at Towcester 2m 6f hts chs (6) gd in Mar.
Celtic Boy (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Chased winner to 11th, stayed prominent, mistake 17th, weakened after 4 out, no chance when fell 2 out, in a race won by Bubble Boy (11-2) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov '07, 7 ran.
Newbay Bob 3-1 (11-5) Chased leader to 5th, outpaced when mistake 4 out, beaten after, weakened after 2 out, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Armoury House (11-9) at Towcester 2m 6f hts chs (6) gd.
