held up in touch on outside, outpaced after 5 out, ridden after next, never on terms, weakened 2 out
led, clear 3 out, ridden between last 2, tired and reduced advantage flat, headed near finish
tracked leaders, driven 4 out, one pace when mistake next, soon ridden, rallied into 2nd last, stayed on strongly flat, led near finish
tracked leaders on inside, ridden before 4 out, no impression next, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, ridden after 4 out, one pace and no impression next, lost 2nd last, kept on flat, no extra closing stages
held up in touch, headway on inside 12th, driven after 4 out, never on terms, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
refused to race
mistakes, held up, always in rear, tailed off before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden before 4 out, one pace next, stayed on to press winner flat, always just held
After an absence of almost two year, Jonniesofa returned with a runaway 16-length success at Ayr but it would be easy to get carried away with that result. His yard also run Scottish Grand National winner Takingrisks, who had a pipe-opener over hurdles four weeks ago. Lake View Lad won this on his reappearance last year but is a massive 17lb higher now. Kilfilum Cross is back over his best trip after a third at Stratford and Top Ville Ben is a game front-runner who is running in his first handicap over fences. CAPTAIN REDBEARD is a strong stayer who has his ground and he’ll enjoy the likely strong pace. If he can avoid the mistakes than have hampered his career, he could go close. Rock On Fruity is also worth a second look if the market speaks in his favour as he’s already won twice around here.
Lake View Lad (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Mid-division on outside, lost place after 16th (water), soon behind, no danger after, pulled up after 27th, at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Top Ville Ben (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Led, headed before 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 7, 33 3/4l behind Ballyoptic (11-0) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Takingrisks (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Led, headed approaching 3 out, outpaced before next, ridden and no impression before last, weakened flat, 5th of 6, 12 1/4l behind Justatenner (11-5) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Kilfilum Cross (IRE) 14-1 (12-1) Soon towards rear, headway 2 out, ridden before last, kept on, 3rd of 12, 5 3/4l behind Rocco (11-1) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Jonniesofa (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, lost place and behind 7th, tracked leaders again after 9th, led 5 out, not fluent next, clear 3 out, in no danger after, driven out, eased flat, comfortably, won at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Blakerigg (10-6) by 16l, 6 ran.
Captain Redbeard (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, hit 5th, mistakes 12th and next, went 2nd before 3 out until next, well held in 3rd when lost that placing at the last, 4th of 7, 13l behind Burtons Well (11-1) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Lachlan Bridge (GER) 50-1 (11-10) Virtually refused to race and detached when pulled up before 1st, at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Rock On Fruity (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, mistake 5 out, under pressure next, stayed on approaching last, never troubled leaders, 4th of 6, 30l behind Pain Au Chocolat (11-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Captain Chaos (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Always behind, blundered 6th and next, weakened 3 out (usual 4 out), soon pulled up, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
