with leader, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on from last
prominent, mistake 7th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed and held in 3rd when fell last
led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakening when left 3rd last
held up, ridden and headway 3 out, weakened approaching last
in touch, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out and hung left, led approaching last, driven out
mid-division, ridden 7th, weakened next
mid-division, ridden 7th, soon weakened
in touch, jumped slowly 6th, soon weakened
towards rear, ridden and effort when not fluent 3 out, one pace after, left 4th last
mid-division, headway 7th, challenged approaching 2 out, weakened approaching next
towards rear, hit 3rd and 4th, weakened 7th, pulled up before 2 out
Nom de Guerre has shown improved form of late and Ben de Haan's gelding is taken to defy the penalty incurred for his Leicester success and gets the vote ahead of Porters War and Backstage. The last mentioned showed good form over fences two seasons ago but has not reproduced a similar level of form in two starts over hurdles this term and may be best watched at present. Enroblim Trop showed promise in bumpers but has yet to translate that form to hurdles, while Fairoak Lad did not progress from his debut outing when disappointing at Newbury when last seen in December. Alan King's Porters War showed improved form when successful at Southwell recently and has to be respected but it is hard to get away from Nom de Guerre, who has solid claims.
