chased leaders throughout, ridden before 2 out, kept on to take 2nd run-in, not pace of winner
led, headed 4 out, soon ridden, gradually faded
prominent, led and pushed along 4 out, pressed before 3 out, not fluent 3 out, headed 2 out, mistake last, weakened run-in
towards rear, mistakes 8th and 12th, ridden after 15th, weakened after 3 out
handy, pressed leader before 3 out, led and not fluent 2 out, soon ridden and went clear before last, ran on well
held up in rear, lost touch before 4 out, never on terms, tailed off
Ballyegan Hero has won over both fences and hurdles here this year but the testing going today may not be ideal. Soyouthinksoagain finished ahead of Hatchet Jack over hurdles at Ascot last winter but the latter is now a massive 23lb better off. The Newest One continues to disappoint so we’ll give a tentative vote to TALLOW FOR COAL as he has already won a point-to-point so was probably marking time over hurdles last season.
Soyouthinksoagain (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Held up in rear, headway 8th, 4th before 3 out, never able to get on terms, lost 4th towards finish, 5th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Aquila Sky (11-4) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Ballyegan Hero (IRE) 7-2 (10-0) Led, headed after 2nd and raced close up, led again 4 out, extended advantage well over 2 out, kept on well and in control flat, eased final strides, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Sep beating Easyrun De Vassy (10-0) by 3 1/4l, 4 ran.
Tallow For Coal (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Chased leader until awkward 2 out, chased leaders, driven along and one pace in 3rd between last 2, 3rd of 15, 15 1/4l behind Equus Dreamer (11-5) at Hereford 3m 2f mdn (4) sft in Feb.
Monty Guiry (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Held up tracking leaders on inside, lost place slightly 10th, rallied 13th, outpaced 15th, no chance after, 5th of 6, 29 1/2l behind Haul Away (10-8) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
The Newest One (IRE) 3-1fav (11-4) Tracked leader, pushed along run to 4 out, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 5th of 6, dist behind No Anxiety (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in May.
Hatchet Jack (IRE) 18-1 (10-6) Towards rear, mistake 8th, never on terms, tailed off, 6th of 12, 35 3/4l behind Minella Bobo (11-7) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Feb.