chased leaders until 2nd, held up in 3rd after, went 2nd again approaching 7th until mistake 3 out, led and bumped 2 out, headed last, stayed on under pressure to regain lead towards finish
chased leader 2nd until 7th, went 2nd again 3 out, led approaching 2 out, headed and bumped at fence, regained lead last, headed towards finish
raced freely, led and soon clear, headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten
in rear, bumped 2nd, not fluent 4th, lost touch after 6th, tailed off
in rear, jumped left 2nd and when losing touch 8th, mistake 4 out
Fiftyonefiftyone has ability but needs to learn to settle if he's to make his mark over fences. Four Strong Winds ran some nice races over hurdles last season but hasn't impressed with his jumping over fences so far so this is probably best left to chasing newcomer BALLYBACH. Nick Gifford's gelding is from the same family as decent chaser Parsons Cross and was trying to give 5lb to the promising Like A Hurricane over hurdles at Ascot at the end of October - he should find this easier.
Ballybach (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Always prominent, mistake 5th, led 8th, hard driven and strongly challenged after 3 out, headed approaching last, stayed on under pressure, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Like A Hurricane (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Fiftyonefiftyone (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, tracked clear leader, closed 5th, brought down 7th, in a race won by Mohayer (10-11) at Lingfield 2m beg chs (4) hvy in Nov, 4 ran.
Four Strong Winds (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Mid-division, blundered and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Columbus Secret (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn chs (5) gd in Dec, 10 ran.
Stealing Time (IRE) 125-1 (10-9) Awkward and went right start, raced keenly in rear, headway into mid-division on outside 5th, lost place after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 16, well behind Pride In Battle (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gd in Dec.
Raspbary 20-1 (11-1) Raced wide, in touch, pushed along in 5th after 3 out, one pace and no impression before next, 6th of 10, 20l behind Marino Prince (11-6) at Kempton 2m cond nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
