in touch on inner, hit 3rd, behind after next
made most, pushed along from 3 out, headed next, chased leader after, rallied under pressure flat, but not pace of winner
hit 2nd, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, hampered 3rd, mistake 4th, staying on when hit 3 out, ridden and no impression before last
behind, ridden 4th, soon struggling
pressed leader to 4th, weakened quickly next, well behind when blundered 2 out
always behind
in touch, effort and ridden 3 out, weakening when hit last
took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, weakened 3 out
in touch, ridden after 5th, hit 3 out, 8th and 7 lengths down jumping last, strong run on outer flat, led near finish
took keen hold in mid-division, close up when bumped 3 out, ridden and weakened next
chased leaders, blundered and went right 3 out, weakened before next
in mid-division until unseated rider 3rd
always behind
held up towards rear, never dangerous
not fluent 2nd, in touch on inside, headway and went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, not fluent last, driven and kept on well flat caught near finish
took keen hold and held up in rear, hampered on outside by loose horse after 5th, headway to chase leaders on outside and hit 2 out, in touch approaching last, one pace flat
mid-division, headway to chase leader from 3 out, in touch and driven 2 out, not quicken flat
held up in mid-division, driven and some headway approaching 2 out, never going pace to reach leader
behind most of way
Sweet Wake will be a popular choice here, but we shall take Noland to overturn the Irish fancy, with Straw Bear, Rasharrow and Crow Wood just a few more in with chances. The recent rain will have taken the sting out of the ground at Cheltenham, and that has to be good news for backers of Noland, successful in each of his last three starts in the build up to this. The Paul Nicholls inmate revealed his ability to handle the hill when making a winning start to his hurdling career here in December, and since then has captured the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown and more recently a Listed affair at Exeter in which he had Boychuk 17 lengths away in third. He has plenty going for him and is taken to repel the challenge of the big Irish hope Sweet Wake. Trained by Noel Meade, whose only previous Festival success came in this very race with Sausalito Bay six years ago, the ex-German Flat horse, a winner in Group 2 company, runs in the same colours, and has done nothing wrong in following a similar path, having won both starts, at Leopardstown and Naas in easy fashion. He has been heavily backed to give the Irish yet another win in a contest that they have farmed over the years, but at the likely price he has to be taken on today. Nick Gifford is looking for a big run from Straw Bear, also unbeaten in two outings over timber, and the former Sir Mark Prescott inmate should not be underestimated despite not looking that impressive at Folkestone last time, while the likes of northern raiders, Crow Wood, Rasharrow and Masafi will attract each-way support, and in a terrific opener, we return to Noland as the value to beat Sweet Wake.
Blueberry Boy (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Led, strongly pressed 2 out, headed and weakened before last, 4th of 7, 15l behind Mr Nosie (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m 2f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Feb.
Buena Vista (IRE) 8-13fav (11-10) Led, mistake 3rd, ridden 3 out, driven and headed between last 2, no extra, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Noland (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (C) gs in Dec.
Crow Wood 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led going well 3 out, hit next, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Feb beating Saif Sareea (10-4) by 7l, 17 ran.
Jazz Messenger (FR) 8-13fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, mistake and dropped to 3rd 3 out, 2nd after 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Drunken Disorderly (11-6) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl hvy in Feb.
Kalderon (GER) 5-1 (11-12) Mid-division, smooth headway 3 out, 2nd next, soon ridden to challenge, every chance when bad mistake last, no extra, 2nd of 16, 3l behind Schindlers Hunt (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m mdn hdl gs.
Masafi (IRE) 4-11fav (11-10) Tracked leader, smooth headway to lead approaching 3 out, ridden after next, driven out flat, won at Musselburgh 2m nov hdl (3) gd in Jan beating Double Vodka (11-4) by 3l, 15 ran.
Muntami (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 10th of 11, well behind Overstrand (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Natal (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Prominent and keen, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Briareus (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Nikola (FR) 8-13fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led before 3rd, made rest, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Kilmackilloge (11-2) by 5l, 8 ran.
Noland 6-5fav (11-11) In touch, chased leader after 4th, led soon after 2 out, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 1f lst nov hdl (1) gs in Feb beating Mister Quasimodo (11-9) by 2l, 11 ran.
O'Muircheartaigh (IRE) 4-5fav (11-12) Took closer order before halfway, challenged and led 2 out, soon ridden and strongly pressed, headed last, outpaced run-in, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Iktitaf (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m nov hdl Grd 1 hvy in Dec.
Orcadian 2-1fav (11-4) Disputed lead, led after 3 out, ridden and headed next, hard ridden and rallied to lead flat, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Ken's Dream (11-4) by 1l, 18 ran.
Pablo Du Charmil (FR) 7-1 (12-0) Led, headed 5th, ridden to lead again 2 out, headed last, no extra, 2nd of 17, 2l behind Turko (11-5) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Patrixprial 15-2 (11-3) Held up, headway to chase leaders 3 out, never dangerous, 5th of 8, 32l behind Refinement (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Rasharrow (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Behind, mistake and stumbled 2nd, stayed on after 3 out to dispute 2nd 2 out, weakening when hampered last, 5th of 8, 4l behind Royal Shakespeare (11-4) at Sandown 2m lst hdl (1) gd in Feb.
Straw Bear (USA) 2-9fav (11-11) Mid-division, headway 3 out, led before last, headed briefly flat, ran on strongly to lead again close home, won at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan beating Classic Role (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Sublimity (FR) 5-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, 3rd and brief effort 2 out, soon no extra, 4th of 5, 29l behind Mounthenry (11-5) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Sweet Wake (GER) 1-2fav (11-2) Pulled hard early, always close up, disputed lead 4 out, led approaching next, quickened clear before 2 out, not extended, won at Naas 2m nov hdl sft in Jan beating Conscript (10-0) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Whispered Promises (USA) 25-1 (11-2) Held up, headway to chase leaders 3 out, soon one pace, 5th of 9, 21l behind Briareus (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Quatre Heures (FR) 4-9fav (11-7) Mid-division, slight mistake 2nd, 3rd and headway 4 out, close 2nd travelling easily after 2 out, led approaching last, not extended, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl gs in Feb beating Count Kearney (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 18 ran.
Zaiyad (IRE) (10-10) Made all, canter, won at Cagnes-Sur-mer 2m 3f hdl gd in Dec beating Espoir De Kerbarh (10-10) by 4l, 5 ran.
