tracked leaders, headway 3 out to chase leader, every chance when pecked last, one pace when left 3rd flat
held up in touch, headway 2 out, rideden and one length down when left in lead flat, stayed on
led, headed 7th, tracked leader until weakened quickly approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
towards rear, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 6th
tracked leader, led 7th, ridden and headed last, one pace when left 2nd flat
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, led last, one length up and ridden when ran out on flat
Noshinannikin has to give a stone and upwards away here, but may be up to the task over the reappearing Niagara and Jericho III. Noshinannikin has now had five outings for Sue Smith and she will find the key to him soon no doubt, The former Mick Easterby inmate has won both over hurdles and fences in the past and although well held by Ceresfield at Southwell last time, would have needed that first outing since March and can improve enough here to hump topweight to victory. He is by no means a cast-iron selection though, as Niagara could give him a race. Mark Tompkins' runner, five times a winner on the Flat, failed to add to that tally over hurdles but showed plenty of promise when picking up novice chases at Plumpton and Towcester last autumn, and will be all the better for a blow-out on the level at Pontefract in April. He should not be discounted, nor should Jericho III, as Richard Guest, trainer of Ceresfield, will have a form-line to work on. However, Jericho III is eight-pounds 'wrong' in the weights, and will do well to bustle up the principals, the best of whom, with conditions in his favour, may be Noshinannikin to small stakes.
