held up in last trio, headway on inside 4 out, effort between horses and pressed leaders 2 out, 3rd soon after, disputing well held 2nd last, no extra last half furlong, lost 3rd post
took keen hold, chased leaders on outside, led after 3rd, not fluent 5th, headed after 7th, still well there 3 out, weakened before next
held up in last pair, steady headway 9th, chased leaders after 3 out, ridden to challenge and hit 2 out, rallied to well held 3rd post
held up in last pair and patienly ridden, steady headway on outside approaching 4 out, led going easily approaching 2 out, soon quickened clear, went left last, easily
chasing leader when hampered and led 2nd, headed after next, chased leader until 6th, pushed along and stayed well there until blundered badly sprawled and dropped rear 8th, not recover, tailed off
close up, chased leaders 4th, led and not fluent 9th, headed after 3 out, every chance 2 out, chased winner in vain after, kept on for clear 2nd
led until blundered headed 2nd and dropped to rear, blundered badly 4th and pulled up
chased leader 2nd, led after 7th until 9th, led again after 3 out, headed and weakened approaching 2 out,
NOBLE ALAN has justified some of Nicky Richards faith in him and the decision to head down to Ascot appears significant enough for us to put him up as the selection. Woolcombe Folly has won four of his last five races and hasn't really given the assessor a full look at him due to his tendency to win by very small margins. Consigliere has been tried in decent handicaps in the past so any market interest would be noteworthy. Henry Daly tends to leave a bit to work on with a first run so we can be confident that sometime front runner, Pickamus, will be cherry ripe this afternoon. Cockney Trucker was an improving novice last term though he disappointed badly on a previous visit to the course when his jumping became very errant indeed.
Consigliere (FR) 6-1fav (11-10) In touch, hampered 4th, mistake 6th, weakened 4 out, 7th of 16, 34l behind Chaninbar (10-8) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Tatenen (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, led narrowly 10th, headed before 3 out, soon driven and outpaced, no chance with winner from next, kept on same pace, lost 2nd after last, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Riverside Theatre (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f grad ch (2) gd.
Noble Alan (GER) 11-10fav (10-4) Tracked leader, 1 length down in 2nd and going well when left 2 lengths clear last, ridden out flat, stayed on well, won at Kelso 2m 1f Ltd hcp chs (2) gd beating Gringo (10-4) by 5l, 5 ran.
Woolcombe Folly (IRE) 1-2fav (11-8) Held up 3rd and last, went 2nd 9th, shaken up after 3 out, challenged when hit next, edged right and led flat, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 2m nov chs (2) gd in Apr beating Line Artic (11-1) by 1l, 3 ran.
King Edmund 10-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, hit 8th, effort 3 out, soon one pace, 4th of 10, 14l behind Safari Journey (10-8) at Ascot 2m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Piraya (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Led at fast pace, headed before 14th, weakened rapidly, pulled up before 17th, in a race won by Church Island (10-5) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 19 ran.
Cockney Trucker (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Made all, blundered 3rd, joined and clear 4 out, 2 lengths clear when blundered 2 out, drew well clear approaching last, driven out flat, eased towards finish, won at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gd in Oct beating Rock Noir (11-2) by 17l, 6 ran.
Pickamus (FR) 16-1 (10-4) Led, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, well behind Any Given Day (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Oct.
