reluctant to jump off, slowly away, recovered to track leaders at 2nd, blundered badly and fell heavily 3 out
led and soon clear, not fluent and reduced lead 5th, ridden and joined 2 out, headed approaching next, rallied and every chance flat, ran on, just held
always in rear, slow 11th, never on terms
close up, mistake 4th, pushed along 11th, weakened 3 out, jumped badly left next and last
chased clear leader, pushed along and every chance 2 out, ridden to lead approaching next, joined flat, ran on, gamely
THE COB, a Grade 2 winner over hurdles, made an impressive start to his chase career at Uttoxeter and could be worth following. Raffle Ticket wasn’t disgraced at Sandown and Guernesey looks built to jump fences but Balko Saint has finished last in each of his three runs over the larger obstacles. Jay Jay Reilly never figured at Ffos Las but may have found the going too testing and is surely capable of better.
The Cob (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Jumped right, led 1st, well clear from 3 out, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Cobblers Dream (11-10) by 13l, 6 ran.
Jay Jay Reilly (IRE) 11-1 (10-9) Off the pace in last pair,pushed along and outpaced in 6th after 13th, left remote 5th 4 out, 5th of 8, 22l behind Complete Unknown (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Balko Saint (FR) 13-2 (11-1) Prominent, struggling and dropped to rear home turn, tailed off, last of 6, 36 1/4l behind Mercian Prince (11-8) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Guernesey (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Never closer than mid-division, 10th of 15, 18 1/2l behind Grey Dawning (11-0) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Raffle Ticket 13-2 (11-7) Held up in 4th place, closer at 13th, went 2nd 4 out, pushed along before next, every chance when pecked 2 out, soon ridden, weakened into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 4, 4 1/4l behind Gloire D'Athon (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
