chased leaders on outside, not fluent 4th, driven 14th, stayed on same pace from 3 out
made all, ridden before 4 out, stayed on gamely
with winner until 4th, stayed 2nd until not fluent 13th, last and ridden after next, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders, closed 13th, not fluent and lost place 3 out, no extra next, weakened before last, tailed off
chased leaders, switched right before 2 out, went right and not much room last, stayed on flat, unable to challenge
held up and raced wide, not fluent 11th, headway 13th, went 2nd 4 out, every chance when blundered 2 out, lost 2nd and not fluent last, one pace flat
Ben Pauling's yard was in terrific form at the start of the year but the winners have just dried up over the last couple of weeks, though Cosway Spirit should have benefited from his run at Towcester last month. Bangor winner Bally Braes is tried in a visor after being pulled up next time at Warwick while Expanding Universe has more on his plate than at Ffos Las carrying a penalty. GENTLE GEORGE has yet to win outside of hunter chase company but this looks a good opportunity. He's lightly raced for his age and Richard Johnson is a significant jockey booking.
Bally Braes (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Not always fluent and ran in snatches, mostly well in touch until 14th, jumped slowly and weakened next, pulled up after, in a race won by Take The Mick (10-13) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Jan, 8 ran.
Gentle George 7-2fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, slow 6th, mistake 14th, soon weakened, no impression after, 4th of 7, 20l behind Carli King (11-1) at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Cosway Spirit (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Led to 4 out, one pace, 4th of 11, 17l behind Newton Thistle (10-10) at Towcester 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Thinger Licht (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Soon mid-division, pushed along 5th, lost place next, behind when not fluent 9th, 6th of 8, well behind Toowoomba (11-9) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Jan.
Bebinn (IRE) 17-2 (10-8) Mid-division, reminders before 8th, weakened from 10th, 7th of 11, 42l behind Newton Thistle (10-10) at Towcester 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Magical Man 10-1 (10-3) Not fluent, held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway after 3rd, no extra 3 out, 8th of 14, 37l behind Aroseforoscar (10-3) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
Expanding Universe (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Always prominent, chased leader 5th, led 11th, ridden between last two, pressed when not fluent last, driven and stayed on gamely run-in, won at Ffos Las 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) hvy beating Candide (11-9) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
