held up, hampered after 1f, closed 11f out, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden and outpaced by leaders over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, dropped rear 7f out, headway 3f out, went 3rd 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, no impression
held up, took keen hold, hampered after 1f, headway 6f out, weakened over 2f out
led, headed over 10f out, led 5f out, ridden over 2f out, headed just over 1f out, stayed on, not pace of winner
tracked leaders, slightly hampered after 1f, went 2nd 4f out, led on bit just over 1f out, easily
held up in rear, hampered after 1f, ridden over 3f out, soon outpaced, no impression
with leader, led over 10f out, headed 5f out, weakened over 3f out
prominent when went badly wrong and pulled up after 1f
With a crack at the King George in less than a week still on the agenda, NOLAND will be at his peak and cannot be realistically opposed. Nine times a winner in his 13 starts including three times at Grade 1 level, he hasn't been seen since landing the John Durkan at Punchestown two years ago. He has a bumper success at Wincanton to his credit and should have too much class for these rivals. Stablemate Pepe Simo has no fitness concerns having scored over fences at the beginning of last month. He had some decent bumper form before going over hurdles and could prove the biggest threat. Awesome George is going nicely over fences but Caught By Witness had the better bumper form of the pair and could snatch a place, though Fountains Flypast will probably attract support as he has landed bumpers at Stratford and Fontwell, the latter by a massive margin.
Awesome George 33-1 (9-11) Behind, soon pushed along, weakened before 9th, tailed off, pulled up after next, in a race won by Little Josh (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
Caught By Witness (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, held up, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders and every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 19, 11l behind Devil To Pay (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Fountains Flypast 16-1 (10-9) In touch, lost place approaching 2nd, mistake 4th, weakened 3 out, 14th of 22, well behind Minella Class (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) gd.
Fringe Theatre King's Theatre gelding out of Second Best.
Noland 9-4fav (11-10) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, headway to 2nd 9th, improved to lead after 4 out, ridden before last, kept on well, strongly pressed close home, all out, won at Punchestown 2m 4f Grade 1 chs (1) hvy in Dec '08 beating The Listener (11-10) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Pepe Simo (IRE) 10-11fav (11-1) Held up in 4th, mistakes 3rd and 8th, progress to track leader after next, led on bit last, soon clear, impressive, won at Sandown 2m beg chs (3) gd in Nov beating Lord Singer (11-1) by 4 1/2l, 4 ran.
Dark Dancer 6-1 (10-7) Raced wide, chased leaders, went 2nd 4f out, led over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no chance with easy winner, dropped to 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 14l behind Fountains Flypast (11-0) at Fontwell 1m 6f NH flat (6) sft in Oct.
Luna Lightning 50-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, weakened over 8f out, lost touch 6f out, tailed off, 5th of 9, 37l behind Tazzarine (10-12) at Southwell 2m mares n h flat (5) std.
Toomuchinformation 16-1 (11-0) Soon in rear, ridden and struggling 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Calypso Bay (11-6) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Froggy Lane 80-1 (10-7) Left trcking winner 1st, lost place 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 11th of 16, well behind Jurisdiction (11-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Natural Spring 5-1 (10-10) Not fluent, tracked leaders, ridden 7th, outpaced 3 out, switched right then left between last 2, one pace, no impression, 5th of 8, 12l behind Risaala (10-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f mares NH nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
