NOBLE`S NATIONAL CLAIMS STUCK IN WARWICK MUD

The Martell Grand National aspirations of Noble Lord took a knock in the mud at Warwick today after he was pulled up in the Warwick National Crudwell Cup handicap chase behind Saxon Duke.

Richard Phillips` eight-year-old had figured prominently in the ante-post lists for the Aintree showpiece next month at around 16-1 but he found 12 stone in paddy field conditions against him.

He never reached a challenging position before calling it a day at the 15th fence under Robert Thornton.

But Phillips` assistant Gordon Clarkson put a brave face on the defeat saying: 'He was a bit disappointing but was really hating that bad ground and was a beaten horse after the first fence.

'Robert knew that and effectively looked after him before pulling him up and he will still be trained for the Grand National.'

Saxon Duke`s 23-length verdict over Parahandy in the marathon extended three and a half mile stamina sapper provided a red letter day for his amateur rider Aaron Bateman as he was partnering his first ever winner under Rules, having been successful three times in point-to-points.

Trainer Oliver Sherwood was fined 95 by the stewards after allowing Kadou Nonantais to carry the No.5 saddle cloth when he should have carried No.2. The Lambourn trainer was not overjoyed by the decision and fumed: 'It`s the clerk of the scales`s responsibility as I see it as he should have checked the number cloth on weighing out.'

Jockey Jason Maguire partnered his first winner since dislocating a shoulder three months ago after Wortley Boy made all to take the Martin Bradley Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle by half a length from Carousing.

But winning connections had a nervous few moments following an objection by the runner-up as the pair had come close together in the closing stages. It did not take the stewards long to decide the result should stand however they slapped a one-day ban (March 19) on Maguire for using his whip with excessive force.

Wortley Boy`s trainer Tom George completed a quick 70-1 double when The Pickled Duke, partnered by Rupert Wakley, galloped his rivals into submission to notch an all the way victory over Brambly Hedge for the `Ta Me Ag Dul Go Warwick` Novices` Hurdle.

George narrowly missed out on a treble and Wakley a double after Hubert could not hold the persistent late challenge of 20-1 shot World Express approaching the final flight of the No Smoking Day trophy handicap hurdle.

Virtuous Circle ploughed a lone furrow home to lift the Cork Novices` Handicap Chase by 22 lengths from Marble City for promising conditional rider Vinnie Keane and trainer Brian Ellison.

The Robin Dickin-trained Max Pride broke through a rail after unseating David Dennis at the second fence in the race and escaped onto a nearby road but was luckily caught within five minutes with no harm done.