chased leader, led 6th to 9th, led 11th, jumped right 12th, jumped slowly and headed 14th, weakened 15th, pulled up before 4 out
held up last, ridden 13th, lost touch 15th, tailed off
pulled hard early and prominent, headway 13th, led 14th, ridden 4 out, driven clear from 2 out
led 6th, led 9th to 11th, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, good headway on bit 15th challenged 3 out and chased winner, jumped badly right 2 out, not reach winner after
Nocksky can take a race where there are less doubts about him than the others, with Uncle Mick likely to provide the main opposition. Nocksky has won over marks much higher than this over hurdles in the past and even at 11 years old he is still going strong. Well suited by this sort of stamina test, he generally jumps well, goes on the ground and also loves this track, so with all that in his favour he can score, despite not winning from similar marks just lately. Another suited by extreme trips is Uncle Mick, fell early on when last appearing here, before finishing a well beaten second at Worcester last time over three miles. The step back up will also suit this likeable plodder, who has performed with cut in the ground in the past and who jumps well, so he has the credentials to get closest to the selection. Jaybejay has ability but this trip is surely too far for him, while Prokofiev has shown his best form on quicker ground, and Peter Bowen may have to wait a little longer before Jacquemart Colombe gets his nose in front. The percentage choice here then is Nocksky.