mid-division, headway to challenge approaching 4 out, soon ridden, one pace from 2 out
led 3rd, ridden and headed 2 out, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, mistake 11th, weakened from next, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway from 13th to track leaders, ridden and every chance 4 out, weakening when fell 2 out
behind and soon lost touch, pulled up before 12th
mid-division, weakened from 11th, soon beaten, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, weakened from 7th and soon beaten
mid-division, outpaced from 11th and soon beaten
led until headed 3rd and tracked leaders, ridden and weakening when blundered 4 out
prominent, ridden and led 2 out, ran on well
mid-division, weakened from 12th and soon beaten
Coole Abbey would have an obvious chance if at his best but has been off the track for the best part of two years so a safer proposition looks to be Ballyfin, who is preferred to Nisbet. The last mentioned has won his last two starts in point-to-points and has to be respected but lack of a recent outing is of concern for the 11-year-old. At the age of just six, Birkwood is easily the youngest of these and, not surprisingly, the least exposed but Ian Stark's gelding needs to improve on the form shown in points to trouble the selection. Royal Snoopy, Blyth Brook and Swiftway have all shown enough to warrant a mention but need to run to there very best and for the principals to run below their ability to take a hand. Coole Abbey has been a wonderful servant over the years but has been off for so long that the vote has to go to Ballyfin. A multiple winner in point-to-points in Ireland last year, he has been freshened up by a recent run between the flags and could be a classy recruit to the hunter chase ranks. Ballyfin is hard to oppose.
Blyth Brook 100-1 Chased leaders, led 6th, headed 8th, still prominent when fell at the 10th in race won by Forest Gunner at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (B) gd in Apr, 25 ran.
Coole Abbey (IRE) 7-2 Tracked leader, headway to lead 4 out, ridden out, won at Newcastle 3m hts chs (H) gs in Mar '03 beating Hazel Reilly by 3l, 3 ran.
Nisbet 9-4 Tracked leader, led 7th, made rest, clear 2 out, comfortably, won at Perth 2m 4f hts chs (H) gd in May beating Alittlebitopower by 16l, 9 ran.
Ballyfin (IRE) 5-4f Won at Maralin 3m ire ptp gs in Nov beating Guappo Boy by 4l, 10 ran.
Birkwood 4-1 unseated rider in race won by Gudasmum at Friars Haugh 3m ptp gd, 16 ran.
Dream of My Life (USA) 3-1 3rd of 7, 10l behind Swiftway at Alnwick 3m ptp frm in Jan.
Laganside (IRE) 16-1 5th of 13, 22l behind Adolphus at Friars Haugh 3m ptp gd.
Meander (IRE) 5-2 3rd of 5, 13l behind Just Barney Boy at Friars Haugh 3m ptp sft in Mar.
Royal Snoopy (IRE) 4-1 Held up in touch, ridden 4 out, stayed on same pace from next, 4th of 16, 10l behind Find Me Another at Huntingdon 3m hts chs (H) gf in May.
Swiftway 5-1 won at Alnwick 3m ptp frm in Jan beating Supreme Day by 8l, 7 ran.
Jupiter's Fancy 100-1 Behind from halfway, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Sleeping Night at Wetherby 3m 1f hts chs (H) gs, 17 ran.
