towards rear, headway 7th, effort approaching 2 out, one paced run in
led, headed after 6th, weakened 3 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon beaten
always behind
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened
in touch, outpaced 3 out, rallied between last 2, stayed on well run in
close up, ridden after 3 out, weakened between last 2
held up in rear, headway 3 out, effort before next, weakened approaching last
close up, led after 6th, ridden 2 out, stayed on well
towards rear, headway 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
in touch, headway 3 out, went second next, chance last, kept on
mid-division, struggling from 4 out, soon pulled up
always in rear
in touch, headway after 3 out, effort 2 out, weakened last
Ballyandy is interesting back over hurdles, as is course and distance winner Stowaway Magic. Montalbano is feasibly treated on his first run for Jonjo O’Neill, who had the winner of this in 2016, while the lack of a recent run is unlikely to be a problem for Colonial Dreams. But the in-form ERICK LE ROUGE has earned this crack at a higher level and may still be a step ahead of the handicapper. The Sweeney’s yard is in good form and the bottom weight has each-way claims again while a return to his best form would see Who's My Jockey thereabouts. Penn Lane has been very lightly raced but Mellow Ben may be the pick of the remainder.
Ballyandy 12-1 (10-2) Towards rear, badly hampered 4 out, no danger after, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Montalbano 6-4 (11-9) Tracked leader, led after 5th, headed 2 out, not fluent at last, no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Tombstone (11-11) at Limerick 2m 4f gd in Oct.
Divin Bere (FR) 5-1fav (9-3) Raced wide close up, riden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 14, 4 3/4l behind Magic Mirror (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Stowaway Magic (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Tracked clear pair, went 2nd after 5 out, ridden and lost place after next, soon one pace, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 9, 15 1/4l behind Reivers Lad (10-13) at Newcastle 2m (3) gs in Dec.
Lord Of The Island (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd soon after 3 out, led 2 out, clear before the last, stayed on strongly, all out, won at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) hvy in Feb beating Fortunate George (10-4) by 6l, 14 ran.
Who's My Jockey (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, never involved, 12th of 15, dist behind Champ (11-6) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Penn Lane (IRE) 5-2fav (11-6) Raced widest, held up, good headway tracking leaders 4 out, led bypassing omitted 3 out, blundered last, strongly pressed near finish, driven and all out, won at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Flashjack (11-7) by shd, 9 ran.
Colonial Dreams (IRE) 5-6fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, left 2nd when mistake 6th, mistake and lost 2nd 4 out, switched left to challenge 3 out, edged left after next, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Lygon Rock (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f (4) gd in May.
Erick Le Rouge (FR) 5-4fav (11-11) Made all, clear last, very easily, won at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Cogburn (11-11) by 18l, 5 ran.
Big Chief Benny (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, 10th of 15, dist behind Champ (11-6) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Mellow Ben (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear on outside, headway after 2 out (usual 3 out), ridden and stayed on to dispute 3rd final furlong, no impression, 4th of 14, 3 3/4l behind Speedo Boy (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Crystal Lad (FR) 16-1 (10-4) With leader, not fluent and led 3rd, headed when not fluent next, stayed handy, every chance when mistake 2 out, hung left before last, no extra, 9th of 23, 17 1/4l behind Monbeg Theatre (10-4) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Et Moi Alors (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden on downhill run after 3 out, weakened before next, 11th of 18, dist behind Champagne Court (10-12) at Lingfield 2m (4) gs in Nov.
The Sweeney (IRE) 8-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, 2nd before 2 out until 2 out, stayed on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 13, 14 1/2l behind Younevercall (11-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
