tracked leader until 3rd, tracked leaders, pushed along in 2nd after 4 out, closed approaching 2 out, soon ridden, led run-in, stayed on well
held up, headway tracking leaders 7th, led briefly 9th, led next, clear 4 out, ridden before 2 out, headed and no extra run-in
tracked leaders but never travelled, driven and lost place 7th, driven and struggling after 9th, tailing off when pulled up before 4 out
led, headed briefly 9th, headed next, weakened after 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd until after 4 out, chased leading pair, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
Un Noble has a chance on his earlier third in a higher grade chase at Ayr though he still remains 10lb higher than when scoring over hurdles. SMARTMAX is preferred having been narrowly beaten at Warwick on his first start since January when also finishing ahead of a subsequent winner. The four-year-old Be On Time is surprisingly exposed over fences with a win at Worcester in October his only success in 12 attempts while the older chasers Kayfton Pete, Ravens Brook and Iona Days all look high enough in the weights at present judged on recent form.
Un Noble (FR) 11-4 (10-8) Held up in touch, went 3rd before 5 out, weakened before 3 out, 4th of 6, 15 3/4l behind Final Assault (11-10) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Iona Days (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up, not fluent 2nd, mistake 8th, pushed along before 11th, soon behind, tailed off, 5th of 7, dist behind Friendly Royal (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Be On Time (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Held up in touch in mid-division, last from 6th, not fluent 4 out, well beaten after 3 out, pulled up before next, at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Ravens Brook (IRE) 66-1 (10-8) Prominent, not much room and lost place 4th, behind 11th, tailed off approaching next, pulled up after, at Warwick 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Smartmax (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Disputed 2nd, left tracking leader at 5th, led narrowly after 3 out, ridden between last 2, hard pressed last, stayed on under pressure flat, headed narrowly final strides, 2nd of 6, shd behind Arthamint (11-6) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Kayfton Pete 20-1 (11-5) Tracked leader until 4th, ridden after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, one pace when mistake last, 5th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Periquest (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
