CROWNING JEWEL has come from some way back on both hurdling starts to date and presumably similar hold-up tactics will be adopted here. He has not been beaten far on either occasion and the level of his form behind Malt Master and Bourne sets a very decent standard. He can get off the mark over timber here. Swaledale Lad looks a major danger though, having followed up useful bumper efforts with a highly promising hurdles debut behind Embsay Crag at Wetherby, with useful types in Red Jade and War Poet comfortably accounted for in third and fourth. Amron Lad has delivered two respectable efforts over timber and should be in the shake-up whilst Noble Scholar made a satisfactory return to action when third of sixteen in a novice hurdle here after over a year off.
Amron Lad (IRE) 6-4fav (11-5) Led, blundered 4 out ridden and headed before and hit 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 9, 18l behind Getting Ready (11-5) at Ayr 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Crowning Jewel 4-6fav (10-12) Tracked leader until before 2 out, soon outpaced, rallied before last, kept on run-in, 3rd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Bourne (10-12) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Noble Scholar (IRE) 22-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, pushed along and lost place before 2 out, kept on before last, 3rd of 16, 16l behind Countess Comet (10-12) at Catterick 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Our Golden Boy (IRE) 18-1 (11-1) Held up in 5th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure approaching last, never reached leaders, 4th of 7, 7l behind Hes Our Lad (10-10) at Stratford 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Skirlaw (IRE) 100-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, soon lost place, 8th of 10, 46l behind Ingleby Spirit (11-11) at Musselburgh 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Sun Cloud (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Mistake 1st, not fluent and dropped towards rear 4th, behind from 6th, 9th of 11, well behind Bar De Ligne (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Swaledale Lad (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, hard pressed 2 out (usual 3 out), ridden and headed at bypassed last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Embsay Crag (10-12) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Swallow (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, one pace approaching next, 5th of 15, 20l behind Open Hearted (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Valsesia (IRE) 50-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, slow 3rd, weakened 6th, 6th of 10, well behind Brindisi Breeze (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f NH mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec.
