held up in 3rd, hit 13th, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
led, mistake and headed 10th, hit 13th, soon outpaced, 2 lengths down in 2nd when blundered 3 out, no impression with winner when left sole rival 2 out
tracked leader, led 10th, made rest, drew clear before 2 out, ridden out flat
behind, not fluent 2nd, mistake 4th, struggling 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
Nonrunner
BALLYBANKS finished runner-up over C&D last month and the race couldn't have worked out much better with both the winner and the third having subsequently won. Robert Johnson's chaser gets the nod to go one better. Twice Lucky also found one too good at Newcastle last time but the winner has since let the form down while What A Dream has claims on his placed efforts but hasn't raced since March. Shoal Bay Dreamer won a modest contest at Hexham yesterday but would have no penalty to carry here if turned out again and makes more appeal than Bollin River, who has shown little over fences so far.
What A Dream 9-2 (10-0) Held up in rear in touch, tracked leaders 13th, left 3rd 4 out, kept on under pressure from next, ridden and rallied flat, took 2nd post, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Frank The Slink (10-13) at Carlisle 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Mar.
Ballybanks (IRE) 4-1 (10-6) In touch on outside, hampered 3rd, led narrowly 7th, headed approaching bypassed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Or de Grugy (11-6) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Oct.
Twice Lucky 9-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, disputed 2nd next, stayed on to chase winner flat, no impression, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Sacre Toi (11-6) at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.
Bollin River 150-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, reminders after 9th, soon weakened, pulled up before 12th, in a race won by Our Island (11-4) at Kelso 2m 7f nov chs (4) hvy in Oct, 6 ran.
Shoal Bay Dreamer 13-2 (10-8) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out (usual 4 out), weakened before 2 out, 4th of 6, 18l behind Delgany Gunner (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in May.