tracked leading pair, hit 7th, ridden to take narrow lead when bumped 3 out, soon headed, weakened next, no chance with winner
not fluent in rear, jumped slowly 5th, soon lost touch, continued, tailed off
held up in 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, closed to lead soon after 3 out, in command when mistake 2 out, driven clear
jumped poorly in rear, ridden and struggling 5th, soon lost touch, well tailed off when pulled up before last
made most, jumped left 3 out and soon headed, blundered and weakened quickly 2 out, soon eased
mostly tracked leader, not fluent 8th, driven approaching 3 out, still challening for 2nd when mistake last, no chance with winner
Trouble At Bay was taken out of a race at Hereford on Thursday because of the ground, so with that in mind we will take him on with Paul Nicholls' Ofarel D'Airy. The selection won his chasing debut fairly well 11 days ago after a couple of iffy jumps, however he Will lbe sure to have come on for that run and so could have the class to go in again today on ground that he should handle. Royal Shakespeare was the best hurdler in the this field, however he hasn't instantly taken to the chase game. His last run however was more pleasing, finishing third behind Jack The Giant. This is less taxing today so he must have major claims, although he would prefer better ground. Swing Bill is unexposed as he has had just two runs in England, and so he is a potential improver so cannot be dismissed, however the other two runners look out of their depth. Ultimately then, we will side with Ofarel D'Airy to take this competitive novices chase.
Trouble At Bay (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, led 3 out, clear approaching last, ran on well, won at Hereford 2m nov chs (3) gs in Dec beating Opera de Coeur (10-7) by 7l, 7 ran.
Ballyman (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) In touch, chased leaders under pressure over 4f out, weakened 3f out, 7th of 15, 25l behind Wise Men Say (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f nhf (6) gs in Nov.
Royal Shakespeare (FR) 9-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd approaching 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Jack The Giant (10-13) at Kempton 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Scania Classic 100-1 (10-5) Held up, weakened from 6th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Anglicisme (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec, 16 ran.
Swing Bill (FR) 13-8fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, chased winner 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 8, 23l behind Siberion (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (3) hvy in Dec.
Ofarel D'airy (FR) 2-7fav (10-7) Mistake 1st, tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, led next, in command 2 out, clear last, eased flat, won at Folkestone 2m mdn chs (4) gs beating Hibernian (11-2) by 4l, 5 ran.
