held up, headway after 2 out, ridden approaching last when weakening
tracked leader til weakened 3 out, pulled up before last
in touch, ridden 2 out, stayed on to lead last
led, headed 2 out, mistake and weakened soon after
in touch, chased leaders approaching last, one pace
in touch, ridden approaching last, faded
tracked leaders, led after 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, faded
towards rear, headway 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, soon headed and no extra
held up rear, ridden when mistake 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up before last
always in rear
towards rear, ridden 5th, behind from 2 out
BALLINDERRY PARK has an interesting profile and is taken to get the better of obvious candidates Nur Tau, Rosoff and Carly Bay. Celtic Spirit has to be feared as he's smart on the level but there's nothing in the book to suggest that this sort of test will bring out the best in him although he did win his maiden on heavy ground back in 2006. Ballinderry Park is something of a shot in the dark given that he pulled up on debut and has been beaten fifty five lengths on his other two runs. However, the handicapper can only be guessing as to the true ability of this Irish point winner and the races he ran in were won by Pride Of Dulcote, Mad Max and Karabak. There aren't any potential Festival winners in this line-up and he should be competitive at worst. Nur Tau was a little disappointing last time but may find handicap company more to his liking and he has to enter calculations having shown bits and pieces of form, including behind one of Charlie Mann's on his penultimate start. There's little to choose between Carly Rock and Rosoff who were only separated by a head at Plumpton in December; Carly Bay is weighted to reverse the form and has won for Warren Marston but she isn't the easiest of rides. We'll be keeping a close eye on Marshall Hall for whom Timmy Murphy is an interesting booking. He won a heavy ground chase for Ferdy Murphy from a mark of 111 in 2007 and finished second at Aintree from a perch of 130 so looks perilously well handicapped back over hurdles racing from 93 if he retains his ability. I'd expect the market to tell us whether that is the case but the selection is a potential improver now handicapping and Ballinderry Park could be a step ahead of the assessor.
Dereks (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Led, ridden 2 out, headed soon after and weakened, 9th of 14, well behind Six Day War (11-4) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Shannon Falls (FR) 10-1 (10-7) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden in 3rd 2 out, soon no extra and weakened, last of 11, 31l behind Sole Bonne Femme (10-1) at Down Royal 2m hcp hdl 0-140 sft in Nov.
Ballinderry Park (FR) 66-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden 2 out, no impression, 5th of 9, 23l behind Karabak (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Equilibria (USA) 20-1 (10-0) Led to 3rd, remained handy until weakened soon after 3 out, 14th of 15, 27l behind Ingratitude (11-9) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Dec.
Celtic Spirit (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) Mid-division, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, kept on same pace after, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Jigsaw Dancer (11-10) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Mar.
Carly Bay 11-2 (11-6) Raced wide, held up in rear, hit 4th, plenty to do approaching 3 out, headway soon after, upsides 2 out, led soon after, jumped badly left last, headed final strides, 2nd of 14, hd behind Rosoff (10-9) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy.
Rosoff (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Held up, headway 5th, 3rd when blundered 2 out, went 2nd before last, never any chance with very easy winner, 2nd of 15, 20l behind Mount Benger (11-7) at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Imminent Victory 100-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off, 8th of 16, 49l behind Mad Max (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft.
Marshall Hall (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Slowly away, behind, mistake 1st, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Wanango (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Feb, 6 ran.
Silistra 50-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway after 6th, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 17, 13l behind Tarkesar (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Abfabfong (IRE) 22-1 (10-2) Mid-division, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 10, 46l behind Ring Bo Ree (10-8) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
Nur Tau (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) Took keen hold in 4th, went 6 lengths 2nd 2 out, no impression and lost 2nd well before last, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Cabinet Minister (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
