tracked leaders on inside, led 4 out, stayed on gamely from last, ridden out
pulled hard, restrained in rear until pulled way up to lead before 6th and set good pace, headed 4 out, weakened rapidly, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
raced wide, led, reached for 5th, headed before next, chased leader, challenged and hit 4 out, pushed along and lost 2nd after next, weakened on long run to 2 out
held up in touch, headway 4 out, 3rd travelling well after next, one pace before next
held up in last trio, ridden and no impression in 6th before 2 out
held up and behind, never nearer
raced keenly, in touch in 5th, weakening when stumbled badly 3 out
raced keenly, tracked leaders, close 2nd after 3 out, ridden and one pace between last 2
held up in last trio, headway 4th and held when went left and mistake 2 out, eased, mistake last
chased leader, mistake 2nd, lost 2nd before 6th, chased leaders, pushed along after 4 out, weakened on long run before 2 out
Charles Byrne’s Thosedaysaregone makes a swift return to these shores having landed a gamble at Wetherby last week with something to spare. This is a better race and he is 4lb higher but certainly one for the short-list. Ballymoy was winning for the fifth time in six starts at Haydock last month but runner-up BETTER GETALONG (NAP) is 5lb better off and was having his first run of the season that day. He is Brian Hughes’ only booked ride and can strike for the north. Boite has claims now his sights are lowered while the novice Seddon is still progressing. Colonial Dreams and New Quay are both previous course and distance winner so are preferred to last year’s fourth Man Of Plenty and Kelpies Myth, who will have stamina to prove.
Ballymoy (IRE) 5-6fav (11-7) Led, headed after 4 out, not fluent 3 out, led 2 out, not fluent last, clear flat, stayed on, won at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Better Getalong (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Djingle (FR) 13-8 (11-2) Took keen hold, jumped right and not fluent, led, clear until 6th, hit next, headed 3 out, well beaten 2nd when mistake and unseated rider last, at Warwick 2m (3) gd in Nov.
Boite (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Tracked leader to 3 out, soon outpaced, last of 5, 20 1/4l behind Verdana Blue (11-0) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Seddon (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inside, pushed along before straight, kept on final 2f, went 3rd and one pace final 2f, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Angels Breath (11-0) at Ascot 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Better Getalong (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd flat, kept on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Ballymoy (11-7) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Man Of Plenty 33-1 (10-11) Held up and towards rear, never a factor, 16th of 21, 22 3/4l behind Mohaayed (11-10) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) sft in Dec.
New Quay (IRE) 5-6fav (10-10) Chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened 2 out, last of 6, 16 1/2l behind French Crusader (11-0) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Colonial Dreams (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, effort before next, weakened approaching last, 6th of 14, 17 3/4l behind Erick Le Rouge (11-3) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Thosedaysaregone (IRE) 11-10fav (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, challenged on inside 2 out, led narrowly between last 2, ridden clear when wandered flat, kept on, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jan beating Simply A Legend (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Kelpies Myth 15-2 (10-7) Keen, prominent, lost place 4th, outpaced after 4 out, rallied 2 out, stayed on into 4th approaching and mistake last, never a threat, 4th of 9, 5 1/2l behind Normal Norman (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
