held up, smooth headway approaching 4 out, ridden approaching last, two lengths 2nd when hampered last, not recover
tracked leader, ridden approaching 4 out, hit next, five lengths 3rd approaching last, left clear flat
held up in touch, effort 13th, ridden 4 out, one pace approaching last, held when left 2nd flat
led, mistakes 1st and 12th, ridden 3out, two lengths clear when mistake and fell last
Just the four runners but an interesting contest. Ballinclay King was a high-class novice hurdler who won the Grade 1 Martell Maghull Novices' Hurdle in 2001, having shown himself to be a very good novice chaser the year before. He has not fared so well in handicap chases since but reverts to chasing following a return for the season over hurdles. Ryalux ran a blinder to finish third in the skybet.com Gold Cup at Kempton and is a worthy favourite for this race, and he gets the TEAMtalk vote. Kit Smartie failed to progress after a very good second in the Great Yorkshire Chase but a return to that form would see him in with a shout. Kerry Lads has risen in the weights as a consequence of a couple of wins, is generally consistent but the selection is favoured.
