always in rear, jumped slowly 4th, pushed along and struggling before 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders on inside, blundered 7th, disputing 2nd before 3 out, ridden and weakened after next
always behind, tailed off
waited with in last trio, smooth headway on outside tracking leaders when dived at 2 out, every chance last, found no extra run-in
always towards rear, never on terms
led, strongly pressed and headed narrowly 2 out, ridden and rallied gamely run-in, won in head bob
chased winner until approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, weakened between las t
mid-division on inside, closer approaching 6th, chased leaders 4 out, switched right after 2 out, edged left and plugged on in 4th run-in
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, still every chance 2 out, soon ridden and weakened before last
chased leaders, led narrowly 2 out, ridden and stayed on gamely, just lost out in head bob
Mint Condition has won a couple of times at Bangor this season but has been raised a further 5lb and Ballymoy has a decent chance of reversing recent form. Hunters Call travelled strongly for a long way when fourth in last month’s Greatwood at Cheltenham and races off the same mark. He won over this trip at Southwell in the summer so looks to have a favourite’s chance reunited with winning rider Richard Johnson. Glinger Flame reverted to hurdles with a victory at Hexham but Captain Tom Cat couldn’t handle a further 6lb rise when on a four-timer at Cheltenham. Recent rain is very much to the advantage of KATESON, who didn’t stay 3m on his reappearance. The grey was good enough to place in the Challow Hurdle two years ago and is on a lower mark than when chasing home the prolific Main Fact on heavy going at Uttoxeter in the spring.
Ballymoy (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Raced wide in touch, ridden 3 out, ridden and close up 3 out, not fluent next, went 3rd briefly run in, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 5 3/4l behind Mint Condition (10-3) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Navajo Pass 11-1 (11-1) Prominent, hit 2nd, not much room 4th, not fluent 5th, led 4 out, edged left after 2 out, headed before last, weakened flat, 5th of 6, 13 1/4l behind Summerville Boy (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (2) gs in Nov.
Irish Roe (IRE) 66-1 (11-8) Held up, ridden towards rear before 3 out, tailed off before 2 out, faded, 8th of 14, dist behind War Lord (11-0) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Hunters Call (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden approaching last, held flat, kept on, 4th of 14, 6 1/4l behind The Shunter (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Glinger Flame (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up and pulled hard, much closer and took 2nd 3 out, urged along after 2 out, pressed leader last, led final 100 yards, just held on, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Ask Paddington (11-7) by hd, 8 ran.
Kateson 17-2 (11-6) Raced keenly, led until 5th, in front again and hit next, headed 3 out, carried head high under pressure after, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened between last 2, 8th of 12, 17 1/4l behind Dell' Arca (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Desaray Girl (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Close up, led chasing group 4th, ridden and lost ground quickly before 3 out, tailed off 2 out, last of 7, dist behind Mrs Hyde (11-0) at Wetherby 2m lst (1) sft in Oct.
Look My Way 40-1 (11-12) Midfield, ridden before 3 out, well adrift before 2 out, no extra, 7th of 18, 22l behind Arrivederci (11-10) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Mint Condition 11-8fav (10-3) In touch, headway 4 out, every chance 2 out, led last, soon headed, rallied to lead again close home, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Chirico Vallis (11-3) by nk, 6 ran.
Captain Tom Cat (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Chased leader, not fluent 6th, lost 2nd when not fluent 4 out, lost 2nd last, no extra, 3rd of 9, 12 1/4l behind Stimulating Song (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Eternally Yours 6-1 (11-0) With leader, blundered and lost place 4 out, outpaced by front trio before next, stayed on to take modest 3rd near finish, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 5, 11 1/2l behind The Con Man (11-10) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
