Martin Pipe's runners always have to be respected and Nous Voila looks the pick of his five runners here under a nice racing weight of 10st 1lb but it has been hard to catch his runners right over the last two months and a safer bet looks to be Penzance, who is preferred to Al Eile and Natal. The last mentioned remains relatively unexposed and while his unbeaten record for Paul Nicholls came to an end behind Feathard Lady in the Christmas Hurdle last time, he is still potentially well treated. Chief Yeoman is closely matched with Desert Air on running at Sandown last month, while Noland won despite the testing conditions at Sandown last time and it will be interesting to see how he performs in relation to stablemate Natal. Irish raider Royal Paradise could probably do with some help from the handicapper, while Dom d'Orgeval has more to do off his new mark than when winning his last two starts. Top weight Al Eile has plenty of class about him but will not find it easy giving so much weight away and preference is for Triumph Hurdle winner Penzance, who has not been disgraced in two starts on ground softer than ideal this season and looks worth a bet off a nice weight on today's ground.
Al Eile (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Held up, headway approaching 3rd, soon ridden, hit last and jumped left, led flat, driven out, won at Haydock 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Mister McGoldrick (11-4) by a nk, 7 ran.
Admiral (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Led, hit 3 out, headed and weakened quickly approaching 2 out, 14th of 20, 27l behind Desert Air (10-9) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Penzance 12-1 (11-4) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last, 4th of 9, 18l behind Harchibald (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Dec.
Natal (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Prominent, hung right and weakened before 2 out, 4th of 7, 22l behind Feathard Lady (11-0) at Sandown 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
Desert Air (JPN) 25-1 (10-9) In touch, chased leading pair 3 out, led approaching 2 out, clear last, hard driven and held on well flat, won at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan beating Nathos (9-13) by 1 1/2l, 20 ran.
Chief Yeoman 16-1 (11-3) In touch, headway approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 20, 10l behind Desert Air (10-9) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Royal Paradise (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching next, last of 5, 33l behind Solerina (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hdl Grd 1 hvy in Dec.
Noland 6-4fav (11-7) Tracked leader, ridden to lead 2 out, in command when not fluent last, stayed on well flat, won at Sandown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Jan beating Whispered Promises (11-7) by 5l, 5 ran.
Perle de Puce (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, headway to track leaders 3 out, ridden approaching next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Bold Fire (9-13) at Southwell 2m mrs hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Dusky Warbler 8-1 (11-2) Led, hit 3rd, driven and headed 2 out, weakened quickly last, last of 9, 33l behind Dom d'Orgeval (10-11) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Nous Voila (FR) 7-4fav (11-8) Made all, clear approaching 2 out, easily, won at Haydock 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Livingonaknifedge (11-8) by 12l, 5 ran.
Only Vintage (USA) 4-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, chased winner from 2 out, blundered last, kept on to hold 2nd run-in, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Afrad (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
Dom d'Orgeval (FR) 5-2fav (10-11) Held up towards rear, ridden after 6th, headway and driven to challenge 2 out, chased leaders soon after, led last, hard driven flat, just held on, won at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Fenix (9-11) by a nk, 9 ran.
Buena Vista (IRE) 8-13fav (11-10) Led, mistake 3rd, ridden 3 out, driven and headed between last 2, no extra, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Noland (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (C) gs in Dec.
Caracciola (GER) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and effort next, one pace approaching last, 5th of 12, 11l behind Desert Quest (10-3) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Dec.
Arch Rebel (USA) 50-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, lost touch before 4 out, progress 2 out, 5th and effort approaching last, soon no extra, 6th of 7, more than 14l behind Brave Inca (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Jan.
Cherub (GER) 25-1 (11-10) Never a factor, 18th of 27, well behind Studmaster (10-3) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 hvy in Jan.
Hawadeth 25-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, 10th of 17, 43l behind Huka Lodge (10-0) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Cloudy Grey (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, soon eased, 16th of 20, 39l behind Desert Air (10-9) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Briareus 10-1 (10-10) Raced wide, chased leaders, ridden 5th, weakened before next, 13th of 20, 25l behind Desert Air (10-9) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Manorson (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Chased leader, led approaching 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 15, 8l behind Acambo (10-9) at Windsor 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
Whispered Promises (USA) 15-2 (11-7) Raced freely, led, hit 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace flat, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Noland (11-7) at Sandown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Jan.
Distant Prospect (IRE) 10-3fav (10-8) Mid-division, ridden and headway 2 out, one pace flat, 9th of 29, 19l behind Idole First (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Acambo (GER) 2-1fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway on outside 3 out, ridden to chase leaders next, kept on same pace, 5th of 17, 9l behind Crow Wood (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf.
Miss Academy (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Held up when fell at the 2nd in race won by Bold Fire (9-13) at Southwell 2m mrs hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan, 9 ran.
Tramantano 17-2 (11-10) Held up and behind, hit 2nd, headway going well approaching 2 out, switched left and weakened approaching last, 9th of 14, 26l behind Attorney General (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
