made all, ridden 4 out, mistake 2 out and joined, rallied last, kept on run in, won going away
mid-division, asked for effort before 4 out, no impression from 3 out
mid-division, ridden before 4 out, headway 3 out, held every chance 2 out, not fluent last, no extra run in
mid-division, not fluent 4 out, asked for effort 3 out, never involved
in rear, not fluent 4 out, asked for effort before 3 out, no extra from 2 out
mid-division, ridden 5 out, struggling before 4 out, kept on same pace thereafter
prominent, ridden 4 out, no impression from 3 out but kept on well run in
chased leaders, pushed along 3 out, mistake 2 out, held every chance last, kept on run in, always held
always in rear
BALLYVIC BORU is 7lb lower than when landing this 12 months ago and, after a curtailed summer campaign, wasn’t beaten far on his return to action here despite finishing last of four. Brian Hughes has been getting a tune out of Larch Hill but he’s replaced here by a 3lb claimer. Casa Tall looked a progressive sort at Newton Abbot in August but Numitor looks in the handicapper’s grip at present. The mare Fontaine Collonges is having a first run over fences on going that will be faster than ideal and Finistere is equally unexposed and will have learned plenty from his fourth at Huntingdon.
Numitor 3-1 (10-8) Disputed lead, headed 3rd, mistake 6th, not fluent 8th, ridden along before 3 out, lost second 2 out, plugged on one pace from last, 3rd of 6, 13l behind Fidelio Vallis (11-4) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in May.
Larch Hill (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Made all, jumped well, shaken up before last, ridden out run-in, unchallenged, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Romanor (11-10) by 4 1/4l, 7 ran.
Casa Tall (FR) 11-4 (11-7) Badly hampered 1st, left in 3rd place 6th, 2nd going well led soon after 2 out, driven out, won at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (3) sft in Aug beating Peterborough (11-2) by 2l, 5 ran.
One Touch (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Raced freely, led after 1st, hit 5th, mistake 11th, headed before 3 out, weakened approaching next, 4th of 6, dist behind Minella Trump (10-10) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Sep.
Finistere (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Held up in last, headway approaching 2 out, disputing 2nd last until flat, no impression on winner, 4th and weakening towards finish, 4th of 7, 5 3/4l behind Your Darling (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Dr Sanderson (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, lost place and ridden 3 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 15 1/4l behind Northern Bound (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Fontaine Collonges (FR) 5-6fav (10-12) Led at a steady pace, upped tempo approaching 2 out, going okay before last, ridden and headed after last, rallied and led again final 50yds, won at Leicester 2m (3) hvy in Jan beating No Risk Des Flos (11-11) by nk, 9 ran.
Ballyvic Boru (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Chased leader, ridden and beaten from 3 out, 4th and no impression from 2 out, last of 4, 5 3/4l behind Return Ticket (12-2) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Treshnish (FR) 11-1 (11-7) In rear, jumped slowly 2nd, tailed off 5th, pulled up after 6th, at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
