led, tracked leaders after 1st, not fluent 13th or 14th and dropped to rear, tailed off and pulled up next
pressed leader, led 8th, shaken and went clear before 4 out, mistake 3 out, ridden run-in and stayed on well, always doing enough
held up in rear, headway into 2nd home turn, pushed along before 4 out where not fluent, soon ridden, kept on but no impression, not fluent last
handy, led narrowly after 1st, headed 8th, remained prominent, pushed along after 5 out, ridden and held after 4 out
Ballygrifincottage jumped well in the main when beating the odds-on Beauport at Haydock with a subsequent winner well back in third. He has scope for improvement with a tongue-tie fitted today. Bellatrixsa has won over hurdles and on the Flat but was a bit disappointing on her chasing debut at Chepstow. O'Toole made a winning start at Newcastle, however, when well supported, though CITY CHIEF is preferred. A progressive hurdler last season, Nicky Henderson’s charge won easily at Hereford after being beaten in a match by the Grade 1 winner Gelino Bello at Exeter.
Ballygrifincottage (IRE) 13-8 (11-2) Prominent, jumped well in the main, pressed leader after 4th, not fluent 8th, led 11th, shaken up and in command before 2 out, coasted home, comfortably, won at Haydock 2m 6f (2) sft in Nov beating Beauport (11-10) by 11l, 3 ran.
City Chief (IRE) Evensfav (11-10) Raced on inside, led until after 1st, tracked leader, stumbled next, pushed along after 4 out, led after 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Coconut Splash (11-7) by 5 1/2l, 3 ran.
O'Toole (IRE) 13-8fav (12-0) Handy, challenging 4 out, led going well before 2 out, clear last, stayed on well flat, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Castle Rushen (12-0) by 3 3/4l, 9 ran.
Bellatrixsa (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Tracked leader until led after 2nd, pushed along and headed before 4 out, lost 2nd 4 out, no extra in modest 3rd, weakened into 4th run-in, 4th of 5, 26 1/2l behind Monbeg Genius (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
