kept wide early, chased inner until not fluent 8th, soon pushed along, trying to rally when hit next, went 11th, 2nd 4 out, went left again next, kept on from last, never able to challenge
kept out wide, held up in 3rd, went 2nd 8th, hit next, lost 2nd 4 out, weakened and mistake next, eased
jumped well, made all, clear and going strongly before 4 out, shaken up run-in, unchallenged
Ballymoy, six-times a winner over hurdles, was an odds-on beaten favourite in all three starts over fences back in 2019 and though finishing runner-up in all of them never looked like winning. He's rated 1lb below STRATAGEM but has to concede 5lb and Paul Nicholls' youngster, who was caught close home on his chasing debut at Warwick before unseating his rider at the first at Plumpton, can take advantage. Minella Trump, a dual hurdles winner, hasn't shown enough in two starts over fences to offer encouragement.
Ballymoy (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Always in rear, jumped slowly 4th, pushed along and struggling before 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 11, dist behind Kateson (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Minella Trump (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Midfield, hit 3rd, dropped towards rear 6th, ridden 10th, rallied 3 out but still well off the pace, no extra, 5th of 9, 24l behind Imperil (10-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Stratagem (FR) 1-2fav (10-8) With winner when bad mistake and fell 1st, at Plumpton 2m 1f (3) gs in Dec.
