held up 3rd and last, went 2nd and challenged 3 out, led before next, driven clear flat, eased towards finish, comfortably
raced keenly, tracked leader, led 2nd, headed before 2 out, ridden last, stayed on under pressure to hold on for 2nd flat, no chance with winner
led to 2nd, tracked leader until lost place 3 out, soon driven and outpaced, disputed 2nd when not fluent 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, just held for 2nd
This should be a match between Noble Request and SONGE if official ratings are worth their salt and we will side with the latter, while fast-ground lover Wade Farm Billy can give them something to think about. To Noble Request first and the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding ended a lengthy barren-spell two starts ago when scoring at Ayr on good ground. However, a 7lbs rise put paid to him in hurdles company last time and he does have it to prove in these conditions, so with his profile we will take him on. Wade Farm Billy loves to hear his hooves rattle and scored at Towcester almost a year ago to the day on good to firm. He did not have the ability of the aforementioned pair over the smaller obstacles, but he may show more now that Gary Moore sends him chasing and a market check is advised. El President looks to have plenty to find and we will side with Songe. Charlie Longsdon's six-year-old is also unproven on the ground, but he acts on good and we are hopeful. He had a troubled run here on his chase debut, but he should have learned plenty, has a touch of class, and in receipt of weight from Noble Request we will side with him.
Noble Request (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along 4 out, soon weakened, 15th of 23, 49l behind Eradicate (10-1) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl G3 (1) gd.
Songe (FR) 3-1fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, led and about half a length up at last when blundered and unseated rider, in a race won by Circus Of Dreams (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs, 9 ran.
Wade Farm Billy (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Towards rear, hampered bend after 3rd, in mid-division when hampered on inside bend well before 2 out, in touch in 6th when fell 2 out, in a race won by Mous Of Men (10-6) at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr, 16 ran.
El Presidente (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Pulled hard, led, joined 4th, headed narrowly 7th, ridden and every chance 4 out, outpaced by winner after 3 out, 2nd of 5, 15l behind Treaty Flyer (10-7) at Fakenham 2m beg chase (4) gf.
