mid-division, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, one pace and no impression before next
in rear, mistake 1st, ridden after 7th, well beaten 4 out
took keen hold, led, clear 2rd, mistake, pecked 8th, reduced lead 4 out, headed 2 out, switched right and not much room last, stayed on same pace flat
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd or 4 out, one pace and no impression before next
chased leader who went clear 3rd, hit 8th, closed when not fluent 4 out, led and not fluent 2 out, soon edged left, mistake last, edged right flat, ridden out
chased leaders, lost place after 5th, mistake and weakened 8th, pulled up before 2 out
mistakes, held up, last and ridden after 7th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
Noble Friend has never won a race in 16 starts including when beaten a long way on his only run over fences. He ran well over timber here three weeks ago and this is a poor contest so he's sure to be fancied to lose his maiden tag. Home For Tea's best run came on very heavy going at Fontwell in November so conditions will be in his favour but Missionaire, twice a winner on the Flat, has yet to get his act together over jumps and has had plenty of chances. He still looks better than stablemate The Right Time but it's winning point-to-pointer BOBBITS WAY, who produced his best run for some time over this course and distance last time when the ground was very testing, who should be up to winning this though he's another with a poor record.
Noble Friend (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up behind, headway on inside 3 out, chased leader before next, ridden between last 2, kept on and every chance flat, held towards finish, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Hold The Bucks (11-3) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Home For Tea 9-4fav (10-8) Close up, reminders 8th, outpaced 10th, rallied flat to nearly snatch 3rd, 4th of 5, 18l behind Topthorn (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Artifice Sivola (FR) 5-1 (10-11) Pulled hard held up, headway to lead 4th, soon clear, reduced lead 8th, headed next, soon lost place and hit 4 out, tailed off when pulled up last, in a race won by Vision Du Coeur (11-10) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft, 8 ran.
Missionaire (USA) 16-1 (10-11) Led until 1st, chased leader, closed 4 out, led next, headed 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 26l behind Boss In Boots (11-12) at Leicester 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) gs.
Bobbits Way 7-1 (11-6) Chased leading pair, went 2nd briefly 6th, chased winner approaching 4 out, pushed along to challenge 2 out, upsides and every chance last, kept on under pressure run-in until no extra and held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Bravo Riquet (12-5) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy.
The Right Time 14-1 (11-5) Held up in 4th, hit 3rd, ridden before 3 out, soon struggling, 6th of 7, 31l behind Rouquine Sauvage (11-11) at Chepstow 2m mrs hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
Graphical (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Behind, struggling and reminders after 7th, soon lost touch, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Caracci Apache (11-9) at Plumpton 2m 5f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) sft.
