chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, mistake and headed last, lost 2nd when weakened run-in
held up, pushed along after 4th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up mid-division, pushed along 4th, soon struggling, tailed off
in touch, ridden approaching 6th, weakened approaching last
always behind, struggling from after 4th, tailed off
held up, struggling after 4th, tailed off
chased leader, struggling after 4th, tailed off
led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, stayed on to take 2nd run in, no chance with winner
in touch, mistake 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, led last, ran on well
Jonjo O'Neill has taken this race twice in the past four seasons but both of those winners had a fair amount of previous racecourse experience, which can't be said of his debutante Where's The Boss, and Nodforms Paula is preferred, while there are others with claims. Nodforms Paula is a Paul Nicholls inmate and the champ also won this event in 2003, so he knows what is needed. This gelding was a wide margin bumper winner at Hexham in April and has not been seen since, but he will know his job, is well related, and can make a winning hurdling debut. Where's The Boss is also related to winners and looks likely to progress when tried over longer trips. Whiteoak enjoys getting her toe in and has some respectable form but may again find a couple too good, while Openditch impressed over a long trip when scoring at Lingfield and handles cut, so he looks likely to make a bold bid to defy a penalty. Important Business has run second in two bumpers and will be plenty straight enough after the most recent of those last month, so he is another interesting hurdles debutante, but Nodforms Paula looks a nice recruit to this sphere and gets the nod.
Openditch (FR) 11-10fav (10-12) Held up, not fluent 1st, steady headway 4 out, led on bit approaching last, easily, won at Lingfield 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Nov beating Kahrayn (10-12) by 3l, 9 ran.
Cengiz (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Not jump well, soon tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Oniphlaure (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft, 14 ran.
First Stop 100-1 (10-11) Towards rear, never dangerous, 12th of 13, well behind Corkage (11-1) at Hexham 2m nhf (6) gf in Oct.
Important Business (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway over 5f out, ridden 3f out, chased winner over 1f out, hung left inisde final furlong, no impression, 2nd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Phoudamour (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (5) gd in Nov.
Jack London 40-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, tailed off over 5f out, 16th of 17, well behind Queen Poline (10-1) at Haydock 2m nhf (4) sft in Nov.
Kayf Diamond (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, always in rear, tailed off, 13th of 15, 36l behind Voice of Reason (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in Nov.
Killfinnan Castle (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division, behind final 6f, last of 16, well behind Run For Moor (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) gd in Oct.
Merchant Red (USA) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 14, 49l behind Swordsman (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Nodforms Paula (IRE) 5-4fav (10-10) Tracked leaders, led 4f out, drew clear, readily, won at Hexham 2m mdn nhf (6) gf in Apr beating Masra (10-10) by 17l, 14 ran.
Pippling 66-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden over 4f out and weakened, last of 16, 47l behind The Apprentice (10-13) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) gd in Nov.
Whiteoak (IRE) 15-8 (10-7) Held up in rear, headway on inside from 7th, not much room on bend before 3 out, 2 length 3rd when not fluent last, no extra flat, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Sir Harry Ormesher (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m hdl (2) gd in Nov.
Where's The Boss Kayf Tara gelding, half-brother to winning jumper Optimistic Harry.
