raced in last, niggled along after 8th, outpaced when not fluent 2 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
led, headed before 3 out, no extra next
tracked leaders, challenged after 4 out, led when not fluent 2 out, soon headed, stayed on same pace flat
tracked leader, not fluent 8th, challenging when not fluent 4 out, led before next, headed 2 out, soon led again, stayed on well
Phase Shift was easily left behind at Catterick last time but this is a much less competitive affair and she isn't easily dismissed. Morgan's Bay notched a double here and at Kempton just under a year ago and races off the same mark as in the second of those victories but we'll take BARENGER to build on his win at Market Rasen on Boxing Day as the second had won two of her three previous starts. It's more than two years since Ballybach recorded his one and only victory, though he didn't perform badly in a jumpers' bumper last month.
Phase Shift 12-1 (10-7) In rear, mistake in 4th at 11th, soon outpaced, left 3rd from 3 out, never dangerous, 3rd of 5, 22l behind Holywell (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chase (4) sft in Jan.
Ballybach (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, never on terms, no impression over 1f out, 7th of 14, 8l behind Caulfields Venture (11-4) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
Barenger (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) In touch in rear, headway to 3rd 4 out, joined leaders next, switched right and led 2 out, ridden out, won at Market Rasen 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec beating Hopeand (12-0) by 7l, 5 ran.
Morgan's Bay 9-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, ridden before 4 out, went 2nd briefly before mistake 2 out, soon beaten, weakened last, 5th of 7, 19l behind George Nympton (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.
