tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 3 out, not fluent last, kept on same pace
chased leaders, lost place 8th
always behind
held up towards rear, some headway 4 out, never on terms
held up towards rear, some headway 8th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up soon after
tracked leader, ridden 3 out, weakened next
held up, never dangerous
held up in touch, lost place 8th, soon beaten
led, ridden, headed 8th, weakened next
behind, headway 8th, soon chasing leaders, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, mistakes 5th and 7th, weakened 8th
behind, headway 3rd, soon chasing leaders, led 8th, not fluent last, kept on well
mid-division, headway 8th, chased leaders 3 out, soon no impression
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, kept on towards finish
held up in touch, lost place halfway, soon behind
Noble Sham is preferred to Jackie Boy and Quasimodo. The selection has been travelling like a winner on each of his last two starts over fences and is handicapped to win a race. He's reverting to hurdling today but the stable recently scored with Commander Vic who boasted a similar profile to this one. This is the first time that he's been faced with a thorough test over hurdles and recent efforts suggest that he'll improve for it and he has obvious claims. Jackie Boy has become something of a course and distance specialist and should be in the mix once again if handling the ground whilst Quasimodo is in form and feasibly handicapped but hasn't proved the easiest to win with. This is Back In Business's first start over hurdles for current connections and he's well handicapped on his chase form having scored three times over the larger obstacles since joining this yard. The market may be the best guide to his claims after a modest run last time and to those of Corrib Eclipse and Stars Delight but it's hard to get away from Noble Sham.
Corrib Eclipse 5-4fav (11-0) Tracked leader, left in lead approaching 4th, hit 7th, driven 3 out, clear 2 out, won at Worcester 3m nov hdl (4) gs in May '06 beating Original Thought (11-0) by 8l, 10 ran.
Stars Delight (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up, headway before 3 out, chased leaders next, headway under pressure to lead flat, stayed on strongly, won at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar beating Bohemian Boy (11-12) by a hd, 17 ran.
Glen Omen (IRE) 3-1fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway 4 out, outpaced next, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 49l behind Our Joycey (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan.
Quasimodo (GB) 5-1 (10-10) Held up, mistake 7th, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, staying on when switched right towards finish, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Deep Reflection (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Notaproblem (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Towards rear, outpaced 14th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Tomillielou (10-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Dec, 14 ran.
Izzykeen 17-2 (11-6) Chased leaders, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Willie The Fish (10-12) at Catterick 3m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Dec.
See More Jock 28-1 (9-11) Held up, ridden 8th, never dangerous, 4th of 13, 28l behind Iwillrememberyou (11-4) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.
New Perk (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, mistake 11th, moderate headway when mistake 2 out, never on terms, 4th of 9, 24l behind The Dark Lord (11-12) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Jan.
Irishkawa Bellevue (FR) 7-2 (11-1) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, beaten when not fluent last, 4th of 6, 8l behind So Brash (10-9) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Nov.
Ortega (FR) 20-1 (11-4) Behind when blundered and unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Hello Bud (10-7) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan, 12 ran.
Timetwogo 14-1 (10-10) Held up, pushed along approaching 6th, soon struggling, 9th of 12, well behind Fresh Winter (11-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft.
Jackie Boy (IRE) 7-2fav (10-11) Tracked winner, not fluent 2nd, mistake 6th, in touch when unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Blaze Ahead (11-4) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
Noble Sham 4-1fav (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 12th, tracking leaders when fell 4 out in race won by Hello Bud (10-7) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan, 12 ran.
Back In Business (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway after 5 out, weakened next and pulled up at the 17th in race won by Special Conquest (10-7) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Fabrezan (FR) 40-1 (10-7) In 4th when fell at the 2nd in race won by Sprosser (11-4) at Southwell 3m nov chs (3) gd in Jan, 6 ran.
