held up mid-division, went 3rd 3 out, ridden behind leaders approaching 2 out, one pace
prominent, challenged 6th, ridden and lost place 7th, no impression
towards rear, ridden and lost touch 5th, pulled up before 7th
chased leader, blundered badly and lost place 1st, ridden and weakened 3 out, jumped right last, stumbled and fell after
prominent, chased leader and going well 3 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, ran on from last
led 6th, ridden and soon weakened
held up last, headway to lead 6th, hit 7th, ridden 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, rallied approaching last, close up when mistake last, not recover
chased leader, ridden and lost touch 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, ridden and weakened 3 out
Noble Bily has shown enough in two starts since joining the Pipe yard to suggest that a race of this nature would be well within his compass and the five-year-old is taken to open his account in this country and score at the main expense of Hawridge King and McQueen. The last mentioned is a capable performer but has yet to prove as effective over hurdles as on the level and may, once again, have to settle for a minor role. Brendan Powell's Sonoma had to battle hard to win at Fontwell two starts ago and has claims on that evidence but disappointed last time and may now be best watched. Dusty Dane may struggle to give weight away all round on his first start since May, while Silver Song would look to be one of the lesser lights in the Nicholls yard. Hawridge King is less exposed than most of these and has to be respected but Noble Bily has solid claims from limited evidence and he gets the vote.
Dusty Dane (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Pulled hard mid-division, headway approaching 6th, ridden 2 out, led last, driven out flat, won at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo hdl (4) gd in May beating Cava Bien (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Sonoma (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Led, not fluent 1st, ridden 8th, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, well behind Mossville (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs.
Court Ruler 150-1 (8-0) Tracked leaders until weakened quickly 4f out, soon tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Grasp (7-12) at Bath 2m 1f 3yo hcp (5) gs in Oct '05 (Flat).
Hawridge King 5-2 (10-12) In touch and keen, ridden to lead after 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra, 3rd of 15, 3l behind Accumulus (10-2) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gf.
McQueen (IRE) 5-6fav (10-9) Prominent, ridden and mistake 3 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Nounou (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Sept.
Noble Bily (FR) 14-1 (10-11) Took keen hold, mistake 2nd, tracked leaders until weakened after 2 out, 5th of 15, 20l behind Tarlac (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Silver Song 7-2 (10-12) In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 6th of 12, 22l behind Wotchalike (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd.
Cascade Lakes 40-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, mistake 4th, short lived effort approaching 3 out, 7th of 10, 34l behind Fountain Crumble (10-10) at Exeter 2m 6f amt nov hdl (4) gd.
