in touch, keen, not fluent 5th, hung left approaching 6th, ridden 3 out weakened
tracked leader, weakened approaching 3 out
held up rear, behind when pulled up before 7th, dismounted
tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, hit 2 out, clear approaching last
mid-division, headway 7th, ridden 3 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, headway 3rd, ridden and weakened approaching 6th, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, reminder 6th, keeping on when left 2nd last
towards rear, ridden 7th, stayed on approaching 3 out
in touch, driven 6th, one pace from 2 out
towards rear, ridden for headway 4 out, weakened 3 out
towards rear, headway 3rd, led 5th, hit next, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out
keen hold in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
mid-division, headway 5th, chasing leader approaching 3 out, 8 lengths 2nd when ran out an unseated rider approaching last
tracked leaders, weakened in 5th, blundered badly 6th
always towards rear, pulled up before 6th
led, headed approaching 5th, hit 7, weakened, pulled up
prominent till 3rd, tailed off when pulled up before 6th
always behind, pulled up before 3 out
Noble Baron just gets our vote here but there are any number to consider against him. Let's look at the principals. Vicar's Lad is a lightly-raced novice who should be more at home at this level and could go well. Chateau Rose is a chase winner but was a fair fourth behind Willie John Daly at Taunton last time over hurdles. Noble Baron is a course and distance winner from a mark of 90 - now rated 98 - and has run respectably from today's mark since and should go well. Royal Prodigy won a seller here in September but has been beaten in a seller since from a mark of 100. He's now back down to 96 and has been in very good form on the all-weather since so cannot be ruled out of things. Motcombe is lightly-raced and put in a fair effort at Chepstow last time and is entitled to improve again at this trip. Castleford hails from the powerful Philip Hobbs stable and, after putting in a fair effort over fences last time, is another to consider. Beau Coup is hard to assess but Mr Phipps comes here from a stable in form, was noted making late headway last time and is another among the field who could improve again. Solo Dancer won from a mark of 80 at Plumpton for today's rider last time but has a 10lb rise in the ratings to defy if scoring. The lightly-raced Moorland Monarch is another that was noted making late headway last time so could improve, and Standing Applause would certainly come into the reckoning if racing to the level of form that saw him win twice on the Flat in Ireland in 2001. However, he has a 643-day absence to overcome. Add all of this up and it brings us down in favour of Noble Baron.
