led, jumped right and not fluent 2nd, headed 2 out, weakened flat
prominent, outpaced last bend, rallied 3 out, led 2 out, headed before last, no impression on winner flat
chased leaders, jumped left 2nd, lost place before 3 out
mid-division, closed on outside before 4th, lost place after next, well beaten before 3 out
held up in mid-division, headway after 5th, going well behind leaders when not much room and switched left before 2 out, led approaching last, shaken up to assert and edged left flat, comfortably
behind on outside, jumped right and not fluent 1st, behind from 4th
prominent, slow 5th, challenged 3 out, no impression on winner flat, stayed on same pace
prominent, not fluent 1st, ridden and lost place when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, mistake last
held up towards rear, took keen hold, fell 4th
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, 6th and no impression when jumped left and mistake 3 out
held up and behind, slightly hampered 4th, headway approaching 3 out, soon shaken up and no impression
always towards rear
The lightly-raced BALLETICON may be capable of defying a penalty in a potentially-informative opener. Kim Bailey’s seven-year-old never looked in any danger when beating an odds-on favourite on his hurdles bow at Southwell. Chepstow winner The Grey Falco couldn’t cope with a penalty at Bangor but Calico is an interesting newcomer having placed in Listed company on the Flat, though he will never have encountered ground this testing. Olympic Conqueror won on soft going on the Flat, however, and the four-year-old Heross Du Seuil is 2-2 under NH Rules after making a winning start over jumps at Kempton. Red Maple looked a nice prospect in a Bangor bumper and is worth following regardless of how he fares today.
Balleticon (IRE) 10-3 (11-7) Made all, reduced advantage 6th, drew clear under pressure before last, stayed on flat, won at Southwell 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec beating Mocacreme Has (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
The Grey Falco (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Midfield, headway to track leaders at 5th, shaken up on home turn, went second 2 out but weakened and lost second at last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Minella Drama (11-5) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (4) hvy in Dec.
Bizerta (FR) 40-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, lost position 4th, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 9, dist behind Bareback Jack (11-8) at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Blue Beirut (IRE) 28-1 (9-3) Raced wide tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, ridden and weakened final furlong, 9th of 10, 12 1/2l behind Uncle Bernie (9-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Calico (GER) (9-6) 4th of 7, 3l behind Quian (9-6) at Dortmund 1m 6f Grp 3 gd in Sep.
Helovaplan (IRE) 66-1 (9-9) Dwelt towards rear, pushed along 3f out, never on terms, 12th of 13, 24 3/4l behind Flying Moon (8-12) at Hamilton 1m hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Olympic Conqueror (IRE) 13-2 (9-12) Raced wide in touch, headway to lead 2f out, ridden and edged right inside final furlong, driven out, won at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Oct beating Potenza (9-13) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Red Maple (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, almost upsides turning for home, ridden to lead over 2f out, ran on strongly final furlong, always doing enough, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f mdn (5) sft in Sep beating Glimpse Of Gala (10-9) by 2l, 8 ran.
Lime Drop (FR) 18-1 (10-12) In touch, midfield 4f out, pushed along over 2f out, no impression, 7th of 12, dist behind Billams Legacy (10-12) at Wetherby 2m (5) gs in Nov.
Miss Gold Den (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) In touch, headway to track leaders 6f out, ridden 4f out, weakened 2f out, 5th of 11, 36l behind Merry Mistress (10-12) at Hereford 2m (5) hvy in Dec.
Frankly Mr Shankly (GER) 17-2 (9-5) Led to post, raced wide held up, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 11th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Sha La La La Lee (9-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
North Point 7-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, jumped left 2nd, not fluent 4th, detached from leading group 3 out, slightly closer when ridden 2 out, weakened and no match for the front 3, 4th of 8, 23 1/2l behind Genever Dragon (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Sep.
Kimberley 25-1 (10-12) Chased leader, not fluent last (usual 5th), ridden entering home straight, soon faded, 5th of 9, dist behind Progressive (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn fll (4) hvy in Dec.
Obey The Rules (IRE) (11-11) Mid-div, 3rd aftr 8th, 2nd bef 4out, mstk 3out, brfly went 2nd bef str, 3rd bef last, kow but nt mtch wnr, 2nd of 12, shd behind Dare To Begin (12-2) at Monksgrange 3m mdn gd in Sep.
Heross Du Seuil (FR) 3-1 (10-12) Towards rear, jumped left at times, closed before 5th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden and staying on 1 1/2 lengths down when left in clear lead last, won at Kempton 2m (2) sft in Dec beating Her Indoors (10-5) by 10l, 12 ran.
Phil Healy (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up, closed 4f out, ridden over 2f out, outpaced over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Becky The Boo (11-0) at Newcastle 2m (5) pol in Jan.
