tracked leader, led 6th, made most after, advantage from 3 out, clear before last, kept on strongly (no time taken)
held up, progressed to track leaders from 4th, mistake 5th, blundered 10th, no chance after, eased after 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, mistake 5th, lost place and in 7th when mistake 10th, struggling when blundered 3 out, tailed off
raced wide, chased leaders from 4th, ridden in 4th place approaching 4 out, weakened soon after, well behind and struggling when pulled up before 2 out
led until blundered and headed 6th, stayed chasing winner, about 2 lengths 2nd when blundered 3 out, soon driven along and no impression, lost 2nd before 2 out, finished tired
behind, ridden and struggling 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
chased leaders until lost place 4th, soon in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
in touch, progress to chase leaders 8th, chased winner before 2 out, driven and no impression before last, kept on for clear 2nd
held up, some headway on inside and pushed along before 9th, struggling next, tailed off
After battling to win off this mark over timber in soft ground last time NOUN DE LA THINTE can score now switching back to fences ahead of Alderbrook Girl and Sir Bumble. It is a slight concern that the selection's only previous attempted at chasing ended in a fall but that came after a massive absence and a long time ago. He's looked much more assured in his jumping since and showed a nice attitude to score last time. Alderbrook Girl appreciated the return to soft ground last time when only getting headed late on last time. She made plenty of mistakes that day so if she can improve she could get up, that said, the handicapper hasn't helped by raising her mark. Sir Bumble shaped well enough on his chase debut last time and is entitled to build on that and Hobb's Dream is another to considered after finishing second best off this mark last time. This might not be as straight forward as the betting forecast suggests but Noun De La Thinte looks weighted to score if as effective over fences.
Noun De La Thinte (FR) 5-2 (10-8) Prominent, led 3rd, hard ridden and strongly challenged approaching last, kept on under pressure, just held on, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft beating Sebastiano (11-5) by shd, 9 ran.
Space Cowboy (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Unruly to mount, held up in rear, bustled along and looked reluctant after 5th, driven after 11th, mistake next, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Dusk (10-6) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov, 7 ran.
Wondersobright (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Prominent when blundered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Ere Alfie (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) sft, 13 ran.
Rathnaskillogue (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Chased leaders , 4th halfway, ridden in 6th and no extra after 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 16, 25l behind Hatton's Wood (10-11) at Tramore 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 gd in Oct.
Sir Bumble (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 2nd, mistake next, narrowly headed 8th, remained handy, driven after 3 out, went modest 3rd and blundered last, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Magnetic Pole (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f stks (5) gf in Nov.
Springtree (IRE) 9-4 (10-5) Held up mid-division on inside, ridden and outpaced after 5th, never on terms, 4th of 9, 17l behind Ministerofinterior (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gs in Nov.
Alderbrook Girl (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Led to 1st, left in lead 2nd, jumped left and mistake 6th, ridden 6 lengths clear 2 out, edged left flat, headed last strides, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Mr Ironman (10-0) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
Killfinnan Castle (IRE) 18-1 (10-7) Led 1st until blundered badly 2nd, chased leaders, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Mr Ironman (10-0) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov, 9 ran.
Hobb's Dream (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) Behind, headway 9th, chased leaders next, ridden to challenge 3 out, soon chasing winner, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 13, 8l behind Ere Alfie (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) sft.
