keen hold in mid-division, headway 5th, effort 3 out, soon ridden and weakened before next
mistake 1st, behind, weakened 3 out, soon tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
led, headed when mistake 2 out, weakened and blundered last
held up in mid-division, headway 5th, ridden to challenge 2 out, weakened between last 2, hit last
close up in chasing group, weakened, mistake 3 out and 2 out, pulled up before last
chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on one pace, no chance with easy winner
pulled hard, held up in rear, mistake 2nd and next, ridden and struggling 5th, tailed off
behind, ridden 3 out, plugged on one pace from next
held up in mid-division, smooth headway 5th, went 2nd going well 3 out, led well before next, soon clear, very easily
chased leaders to 3 out, weakened soon after and mistake 2 out
took keen hold in touch, weakened 3 out, tailed off
behind, blundered 2nd and mistake next, pushed along 5th, plugged on one pace approaching 2 out
took keen hold, held up in rear, ridden 5th, struggling next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
In the opener, Nobelix gets the call ahead of Kaballero and Nicki Boy. A 76-rated 14-furlong Haydock Flat winner in July, Nobelix hails from a yard that does very well with its jumpers and, with Tony McCoy booked to ride, a good run is likely. Rated in the 70s when scoring over a mile on the Flat in 2004, Liakoura hails from a stable that has been among the winners of late and could go well. Kaballero proved himself good enough to win on the Flat in Germany over a mile and he ran with promise when fourth on his hurdling debut at Exeter last time. It would not take much in the way of improvement for him to get seriously involved today. Art Modern took a tumble when backed last time and, even though his form is hardly out of the ordinary, he has to be considered in what is a run-of-the-mill event. A return to his hurdling form of a year ago would see Magnesium competitive, while German Flat winner Nicki Boy showed some promise on his Aintree hurdling debut and Swift Half was good enough to win a Newton Abbot bumper so is not without a chance, while the dual New Zealand winner, Brookby, should be noted in the betting and, much as Liberty Run is a 51-rated Flat winner at Brighton in September, he has a bit to prove on his hurdling efforts so far. Overall, though, the vote goes to Nobelix.
Art Modern (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Hampered and unseated rider in race won by Almanshood (10-8) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct, 14 ran.
Brookby (NZ) (8-11) 8th of 10, 8l behind Kaapsise (9-0) at Makaraka (NZ) 1m stk sft in Feb (Flat).
Kaballero (GER) 16-1 (10-12) Hampered approaching 1st, in touch, led briefly 5th, close up until faded before last, 4th of 12, 17l behind Wotchalike (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Liakoura (GER) 11-1 (9-6) Held up, chased leaders 2f out, effort over 1f out, not quicken, 5th of 11, 6l behind Rakata (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct (Flat).
Liberty Run (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, pecked 6th, weakened after 3 out, blundered 2 out, burst blood vessel and pulled up at the last in race won by Dusty Dane (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo hdl (4) gd in May, 10 ran.
Magnesium (USA) 13-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, lost place after next, headway again approaching 6th, weakening when mistake 3 out, 5th of 13, 30l behind Rio De Janeiro (10-12) at Stratford 2m nov hdl (3) sft in May.
Mister Trickster (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Chased leaders until weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 15, 35l behind Nocatee (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gd in Jul '04.
Nicki Boy (GER) 22-1 (11-0) Towards rear, some headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 17, 27l behind Bleak House (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Nobelix (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Prominent, switched to race centre and led group entering straight, ridden and every chance over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 15, 13l behind Mikao (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Sept (Flat).
Senior Whim 12-1 (8-11) Soon led, headed 3f out, soon ridden and weakened, 5th of 13, 10l behind Severely (9-6) at Chepstow 2m 3yo hcp (6) gd in Aug '05 (Flat).
Shakerattleandroll (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Pulled hard and held up in mid-division, weakened after 7th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Mossville (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in Oct, 10 ran.
Swift Half (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) In touch, headway 7f out, ridden and led over 2f out, ran on well final furlong, won at N Abbot 2m 1f nhf (6) gf in Apr beating Gaelic Gift (9-9) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
On The Fairway (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) In touch, weakened 5th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Saraba (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar, 18 ran.
