took keen hold, held up in 4th, headway 5th, chased leaders 2 out, no extra before last
held up last, jumped slowly 4th, ridden and weakening when hit 2 out
tracked leading pair until ridden and weakened 2 out
tracked leader, ridden to lead 2 out, in command when not fluent last, stayed on well run-in
raced freely, led, hit 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, held before last
It will be interesting to see if useful flat horse Compton Bolter takes to hurdles but Gerard Butler seems to be aiming him rather highly for his debut and a safer bet looks to be Noland, who is preferred to Iktitaf. The selection had some decent form in bumpers and has sown improved form with each start over hurdles, running out the ready winner against some decent looking opposition at Cheltenham last time. With more improvement to come, and ground conditions to suit, he gets the vote. Howard Johnson's Lennon has similar credentials to Noland having also come from bumpers and looks to be progressing over hurdles; however, his form does not really match that of the selection. Albarino won a handicap here last time but has more on his plate today, while Whispered Promises was probably flattered by the margin of his success last time when allowed a soft lead and may not find things going his own way again today. Noel Meade's Iktitaf had some decent form on the level and is another that is progressing the right way and won a Grade 1 contest at Fairyhouse last month. Noland looked useful at Cheltenham last time though and he gets the vote.
Albarino (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up, smooth headway from 5th, led on bit 2 out, drew well clear run-in, won at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs in Dec beating Nanga Parbat (11-10) by 9l, 11 ran.
Compton Bolter (IRE) 9-4fav (9-12) Led, headed over 1f out, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 8, hd behind Cold Turkey (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec (Flat).
Lennon (IRE) 1-5fav (10-12) Held up in touch, led on bit 2 out, very easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (D) gs in Dec beating Alphabetical (10-12) by 1l, 7 ran.
Noland 8-1 (11-0) In touch, challenged 2 out, led between last 2, clear last, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (C) gs in Dec beating Good Citizen (11-0) by 5l, 7 ran.
Whispered Promises (USA) 40-1 (11-5) Made all, clear from 2nd, kept on well from last, readily, won at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Nov beating L'Antartique (11-2) by 6l, 23 ran.
Iktitaf (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Settled 6th, not fluent 3rd, improved into close 2nd travelling best 2 out, led when slight mistake last, quickened clear run-in, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m nov hdl Grd 1 hvy in Dec beating O'Muircheartaigh (11-12) by 5l, 8 ran.
