tracked leaders, went 2nd soon after 2 out, going well and ridden to challenge last, found little, kept on one pace
tracked winner, ridden 3 out, hit next and lost 2nd, kept on one pace
in rear, behind when pulled up before 7th
held up, ridden and weakend 4 out, soon tailed off
made all, soon clear hit 7th, ridden and ran on flat
took keen hold in mid-division, ridden 4 out, weakened next
always in rear, weakened 4 out
Nonrunner
Nicky Henderson's Pipe Banner stepped up from some encouraging starts in bumpers when making a winning debut over hurdles when landing a maiden contest here in November and the son of Silver Patriarch has every chance under his penalty of obliging again but preference is for another runner under a penalty, BORN AGAIN, who gets the vote ahead of Fabulous Fred. Noel Chance's gelding receives 6lbs from both Pipe Banner and Born Again and has to be respected having run to a consistent level of form and only been out of the frame once in seven starts, when unseating his rider at Plumpton last month. Noel Chance has his string in good order and he has to be considered having earned a rating of 118 but the selection comfortably beat a 127 rated rival last time and can give Fabulous Fred weight and a beating. Mick Quinlan's Daaloob ran well in two starts in bumpers but has yet to translate a similar ability to hurdles, while Neil King's Rumbling Thunder needs to improve on bumper form to take a hand in the finish. Ridley Taylor has given little sign of encouragement and it is hard to get away from Jonjo O'Neill's Born Again, who can confirm the promise of his win here last time.
Born Again (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 5th, challenging when not fluent 3 out, led going well last, edged right when asserting flat, eased towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 2f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) sft beating Bangkok Pete (11-10) by 5l, 11 ran.
Pipe Banner 9-4 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway to join leaders 7th, led between last 2, ridden out flat, won at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov beating No Rules (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Best of The West 150-1 (10-12) Led to approaching 6th, weakened rapidly, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Stoney's Treasure (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov, 8 ran.
Daaloob 66-1 (11-1) Mid-division, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 14, well behind Mille Chief (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Fabulous Fred (IRE) 7-4fav (11-5) Took keen hold, led 2nd, ridden after 2 out, headed flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Llama Farmer (11-5) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Rumbling Thunder (IRE) 28-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 5th of 7, 14l behind Kings Grey (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Ridley Taylor 25-1 (10-8) Prominent, pushed along approaching 5th, weakened after 7th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Mrs Fawlty (11-1) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) sft, 14 ran.
Baltrap (FR) (10-7) 98th of 16, 9l behind Secret D'aurore (10-10) at Clairefontaine(FR) 2m 1f hdl hvy in Aug '08.
