held up in last pair, smooth headway on long run after 7th, 3rd before 4 out, blundered 4 out, driven and one pace before 2 out, kept on pressing for 2nd but no chance with winner
chased leaders on outside, outpaced on long run after 7th, plugged on into modest 4th before 2 out
hung left most of way, chased leading pair, 2nd from 5th, ridden before 4 out, blundered next, driven and one pace before next, no chance with winner, kept on for 2nd
chased winner until 5th, chased leading pair until before 4 out, driven and no impression in 4th when blundered 3 out, weakened into 5th next
made virtually all, clear 2 out, stayed on strongly
held up, blundered, slipped and unseated rider 4th
took keen hold, held up in rear, pushed along and outpaced after 7th, struggling and no chance after, tailed off
Ballyculla finished well ahead of Minellahalfcentury over hurdles at Cheltenham when the pair last seen and looks the type to do well over fences. Virtuel D'Oudon has won between the flags but has never raced on ground this heavy whereas HARRY'S FAREWELL loves the mud. Polly Gundry's charge cruised clear over hurdles on similar going at Kempton in the spring and may have been let in lightly if taking to fences. Desert Joe has a lengthy absence to overcome but Alan King wouldn't be running him on this ground if he wasn't ready.
Ballyculla (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway on inside after 2 out, 4th when not fluent last, stayed on, went 2nd inside final 100 yards, no chance with winner, 2nd of 17, 10l behind Kingsmere (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Apr.
Minellahalfcentury (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, lost place after 5th, headway 9th, struggling when mistake 2 out, well held before last, 8th of 17, 36l behind Kingsmere (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Apr.
Virtuel D'oudon (FR) 11-8fav (11-11) Raced wide, chased leading pair, reminders and went 2nd again after 10th, driven along and no impression when lost 2nd 3 out, chased leaders, weakened flat, 4th of 6, 9l behind Invicta Lake (11-0) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Moorlands Mist 25-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 6th, mistake and lost place 3 out, not fluent and no impression next, 10th of 13, 37l behind Ulzana's Raid (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (3) gs in Oct.
Chase The Spud 33-1 (11-3) Led until mistake 6th, mistake 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 5, 28l behind Mosspark (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f Listed nov hdl (1) sft in Feb.
Desert Joe (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Held up off the pace in 5th, headway to challenge 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led last, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct '12 beating Big Society (10-7) by 1l, 10 ran.
Harry's Farewell 7-1 (11-9) Took keen hold, held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, led before 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb beating Smiles For Miles (11-12) by 7l, 14 ran.
