in touch, headway 7th, hit 4 out and 3 out, every chance when hit 2 out, weakened last
chased leaders, not fluent 6th, jumped left from next, weakened after 13th, pulled up before 4 out
held up and always towards rear
led, hit 2nd and soon headed, lost place 5th, behind from 7th
tracked leaders, led after 6th, hard pressed from 3 out, ridden after 2 out, all out
chased leaders until 11th, soon ridden, one pace from 13th
chased leaders, ridden and effort approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 10th, disputing 6th when fell 12th
led after 2nd until next, chased leaders, lost place and behind after 12th, rallied approaching 4 out, stayed on strongly to go 2nd close home
dwelt badly, always tailed off, pulled up after 9th
held up, mistake 9th, headway next, ridden approaching 13th, weakened 4 out
in touch, close up when pulled up after 11th
prominent, led 3rd until after 6th, chased leaders, ridden after 11th, kept on same pace from 4 out
held up, headway 10th, not fluent 13th, soon pressed winner, ridden after next, every chance when not fluent last, no extra
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
In a wide-open contest, we look to Nas Na Riogh to come back with a bang, while respecting the claims of Noble Baron, Moscow Whisper and Yann's. Nas Na Riogh was at one time held in very high regard at Seven Barrows, and indeed was quietly fancied for the 2003 Triumph Hurdle in which he fell two out when making headway. Since going chasing he has yet to impress, but has taken on much better company than this. Given a long break to get himself right after being pulled up at Uttoxeter in March, hopes are high that he can now make up for lost time. Noble Baron is a past course and distance winner but he too was pulled up on his last start here in December, while Moscow Whisper finds himself sharing topweight on the back of past efforts. Yann's caught the eye when finishing third on his return to action at Leicester last month and he has to be on the short-list, but we will be monitoring the progress of Nas Na Riogh closely, and return to him as the tentative answer.
Moscow Whisper (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Keen hold, chased clear leader, mistake 7th, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 25l behind Nor'nor'east (11-0) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) hvy in Dec.
L'orphelin 9-1 (11-10) Led until 6th, chased winner, ridden after 8th, mistake 10th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Major Euro (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Nov, 7 ran.
Yann's (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Mid-division, lost place after 8th, headway approaching 12th, every chance 3 out to approaching last, weakened flat, 3rd of 11, 15l behind Millenaire (11-8) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Dec.
Twisted Logic (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Always towards rear, lost touch from 11th, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind All In The Stars (11-4) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Nov.
Nas Na Riogh (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Prominent, ridden 11th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Cetti's Warbler (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f mrs hcp chs (A) gs in Mar, 14 ran.
Auburn Spirit 12-1 (10-10) Led until 3rd, with leader, led 10th, took wrong course and pulled up at the 11th in race won by Dead-Eyed Dick (11-4) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Noble Baron 5-1 (10-11) Held, weakening when mistake 4 out pulled up 3 out in race won by Reflected Glory (11-6) at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Tribal King (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Held up, never dangerous, 10th of 23, 30l behind Hakim (10-12) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Nov.
Even More (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Led until after 4th, weakening when hit 3 out, 8th of 11, 21l behind Magic Of Sydney (10-6) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd in Dec.
Athnowen (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) refused to race in race won by Honan (11-4) at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Jun, 10 ran.
Mandica (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, under pressure 14th, hit 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 5, 24l behind Harris Bay (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Dec.
Helixir du Theil (FR) 20-1 (10-2) In touch, ridden when fell 5 out in race won by Mon Mome (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Dun Locha Castle (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Led to 4th, tracked leader, not fluent 4 out, one pace under pressure approaching 2 out, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Mon Mome (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Dec.
Lucky Leader (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Mid-division, hit 4th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Datito (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-110 (E) hvy in Dec, 13 ran.
Grandee Line 11-2 (9-11) Behind, mistake 2nd, ridden and some headway after 13th, never dangerous, 5th of 11, 29l behind Lantaur Lad (10-12) at Southwell 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gd in Apr.
