held up in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, led 3rd, made rest, reminders after 6th, ridden 2 out, kept on under pressure flat
tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden and weakened next, tailed off
led to 3rd, pressed winner until ridden and weakened after 3 out, kept on flat, no impression
The Venetia Williams-trained NOUN DE LA THINTE has been a revelation since being put over fences this season going on to win four races on the bounce in relatively quick succession after a handicap hurdle success in November and, although she found one too good at Warwick last time, the mare has every chance of resuming winning ways today off the same mark on favourably testing ground and gets the vote ahead of Khachaturian and Den of Iniquity. The last mentioned will hopefully have been well schooled by Warren Greatrex following his first fence fall at Cheltenham last month and he has to be considered off what seems a fair mark on ground that suits. Sue Smith's Kilkenny All Star won well at Wetherby in November but has disappointed in both starts since then and now looks best watched with a bigger threat likely to come from Khachaturian. Don McCain's gelding was not the most consistent of performers over hurdles and seems to have the same trait over the larger obstacles as well but if he can reproduce the form shown when successful at Kempton in November he would have every chance. However, the seven-year-old was beaten off a 1lb lower mark in a handicap at Newbury last time and a better bet looks to be Noun De La Thinte, who can win again.
Den of Iniquity 20-1 (11-7) Fell 1st, in a race won by Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-130 (2) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Khachaturian (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led 2nd to 4th, led again 7th, kept narrow advantage, blundered 2 out, soon pressed, ridden and headed last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Doctor Pat (10-13) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec.
Kilkenny All Star (IRE) 22-1 (10-13) Held up, unseated rider 6th, in a race won by Wogan (11-8) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
Noun De La Thinte (FR) 11-8fav (12-0) Led, ridden after 2 out, went slightly right when hard pressed last, stayed on gamely, headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Mr Prickle (11-10) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
