prominent, led 6th until after 3 out, weakened next
held up in rear, ridden 4th, well behind 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, close up but ridden, went badly right 2 out, no danger after
chased leading trio, effort to lead after 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened quickly
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, beaten and went right last
led chasing group approaching 2 out, narrowly headed last, led briefly soon after, pressed winner flat, always just held
held up in rear, ridden before 3 out, headway under pressure before 2 out, one pace before last
not fluent, set fast pace, headed 6th, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
prominent in chasing group, effort under pressure after 3 out, beaten when mistake 2 out
held up in mid-division, effort under pressure after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
towards rewar, driven 6th, well behind 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, smooth headway approaching 2 out, went right, blundered but led last, briefly headed flat, kept on under pressure
mostly tracked leader, pressed leaders 2 out, one pace and held before last
towards rear, pushed along and struggling 3 out, no chacne after
Liberman has been well backed ever since the sponsors opened their book on the race at the start of the week and is taken to justify that support at the main expense of Supreme Serenade and Fountain Hill. The selection has had a chequered career since winning the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in 2003 but has been freshened up by a spell back in Ireland and seems to have regained some of his old zest. Potentially well treated, Liberman is taken to defy an 18lb rise for his latest success at Market Rasen in November. Pipe is also responsible for Samon, who reverts to hurdles after a spell chasing last term, and the unexposed Team Tassel, although neither has as solid a chance as the selection. The Paul Nicholls-trained Fountain Hill makes a belated return to action but is feasibly well treated on novice hurdle form and has to be respected. The handicapper looks to finally have the measure of The Dark Lord and of more interest is recent course and distance winner Supreme Serenade, although a 12lb rise for that success leaves the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding with more to do. Attorney General from the in-from yard of Jim Old and Simon Dow's Gallery God are others worthy of a mention but Liberman has an obvious chance on this season's form and is taken to provide trainer Martin Pipe with another big race success on a Saturday.
