in rear, headway after 5 out, in 3rd before 4 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, pushed along 5 out, soon outpaced, headway 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, kept on well
tracked leaders, pushed along 5 out, led before 4 out, headed before last, kept on and well held
in rear, hampered 2nd, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, led 4th, headed before 4 out, weakened from 2 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened before 3 out
led to 4th, tracked leader, mistake 3 out when every chance, weakened last
towards rear, fell 2nd
Ballybolley, a Grade 2 winning bumper, has only had four starts over fences and showed his best form to date on heavy ground at Huntingdon last time. Cultram Abbey has finished a close second in two of his three starts over fences but could be a few pounds high while Dartford Warbler ran poorly at Ascot after going up 10lb for his Market Rasen success. Somchine was having his first start since April when a good fourth at Kempton though that was in slightly lower grade. Winning point-to-pointer BALLYADEEN showed little over hurdles and was having just his third start for Dai Williams when jumping his rivals into submission at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. He's gone up a massive 14lb but looks capable of much better and can complete a double. Throthethatch is in tremendous form and unlikely to go down without a fight after a convincing victory on heavy going at Musselburgh and Azert De Coeur was only headed on the line over track and trip ten days ago so is another to consider.
Ballybolley (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Prominent, led after 5th, headed next, hit 11th and 3 out, 3rd and beaten after last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Buckhorn Timothy (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Cultram Abbey 4-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, chased front pair when blundered and lost place 3 out, soon one pace, left 3 lengths down in 2nd last, ridden and stayed on well flat, gaining towards finish, just held, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Presented (10-3) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Dartford Warbler (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Led, went left 5th and next, blundered and headed 8th, remained prominent until mistake and weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, 24 1/4l behind Mon Successeur (11-6) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Somchine 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway when mistake 11th, chased leaders next, ridden to challenge 3 out, weakened flat, 4th of 7, 6 3/4l behind Moorlands Jack (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Ballyadeen (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, jumped left throughout, drew clear before 3 out, very easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Court Dismissed (10-13) by 28l, 8 ran.
Plus Jamais (FR) 11-1 (10-0) Prominent, mistake 12th, ridden to challenge 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 10, 21l behind Seventh Sky (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Throthethatch (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Led, mistake 2nd, headed 6 out, ridden 4 out, rallied 2 out, led last, stayed on well, won at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Morning Royalty (11-6) by 5l, 7 ran.
Azert De Coeur (FR) 7-2fav (11-4) Held up in touch, led 4 out, headed last, every chance run-in, kept on and held near finish, 2nd of 8, hd behind Caraline (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
