led, headed after 3rd, not fluent next, close up 3 out, 3rd and held after 2 out, weakened last
mid-division, headway after 6th, reminder before 3 out, went 2nd and not fluent 2 out, looking held when not fluent last, no extra flat
chased leaders, went 2nd after 6th, led before 3 out, drew clear from last, stayed on well
held up towards rear, lost touch after 6th
chased leader, led after 3rd, headed before 3 out, mistake when weakening 2 out, mistake last
keen early, held up in rear on outside, not fluent 6th, soon pushed along and lost touch, went remote 4th last
mid-division, slow 4th, lost touch after 6th
After landing a Southwell maiden, Balleticon carried a penalty at Ludlow and again attempted to make all but weakened after being headed at the second last and may not have handled the heavy ground. Chepstow winner The Grey Falco finished runner-up that day and there doesn't appear any reason for a form reversal. Here Comes McCoy won a 2m4f Uttoxeter maiden but disappointed over the same trip at Wincanton where he weakened quickly in the closing stages. FRANIGANE couldn't get close to the long odds-on Nada To Prada at Ffos Las in November but that was his first start since March and the winner followed up in a Listed contest. Harry Whittington's charge gets 6lb from the winners and can go one better. Isle Of Aron has run quite well in bumpers and has a stayer's pedigree for jumping.
Balleticon (IRE) 5-4fav (11-10) Led, jumped right and not fluent 2nd, headed 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 13, 10 1/2l behind Calico (11-4) at Ludlow 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
Here Comes McCoy (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Midfield, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, ridden and no extra from 2 out, 7th of 14, 18 1/2l behind Sizable Sam (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Franigane (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Led 2nd, headed 4 out, tracked winner, outpaced from 2 out, 2nd of 10, 12l behind Nada To Prada (10-5) at Ffos Las 2m mdn (4) hvy in Nov.
Isle Of Aron 18-1 (10-12) Sweating, held up tracking leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, soon pushed along, ridden and every chance when hung left entering final furlong, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 4 1/4l behind Lady Jane P (10-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (5) gd in Sep.
Johnny Mac (IRE) 125-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, in rear, not fluent 4th and 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon pulled up, at Leicester 2m (3) hvy in Jan.
Sir Apollo (IRE) 9-4 (10-10) Hdwy 8; wknd 3 out, 5th of 6, 20 1/4l behind Does He Know (10-10) at Charm Park 3m mdn gd in Apr.
Slievegar (11-11) Ld till hdd 4th, 1l 2nd 4out, rdn & drpd to 6th aftr 3out, eased from 2out & pu last, at Oldcastle 3m mdn Yielding in Sep.
The Grey Falco (FR) 3-1 (11-10) Prominent, outpaced last bend, rallied 3 out, led 2 out, headed before last, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 13, 4 1/4l behind Calico (11-4) at Ludlow 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
