held up towards rear, hit 8th, headway 14th, mistake next and 16th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway 11th, ridden to chase leaders approaching 4 out, weakened quickly 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
prominent until lost place 16th, ridden and headway approaching 4 out, chased winner 2 out, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, led 5th until 7th, led 14th until 16th, ridden to chase winner until 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders until lost place 7th, ridden after 10th, headway approaching 4 out, one pace from 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 14th, outpaced 16th, headway after 17th, weakened 3 out
led until 5th, led 7th, ridden and headed 14th, weakened 17th, pulled up before 4 out
jumped slowly 5th, always in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 11th
in touch, not fluent and lost place 8th, mistake 12th, soon struggling in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, raced wide, headway 6th, went 2nd 13th, led after 15th, not fluent 3 out, stayed on, ridden out
mid-division, reminders after 2nd, headway 6th, weakened 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, hit 2nd, ridden after 10th, weakened 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division until 12th, soon behind, pulled up before 14th
prominent, ridden 12th, weakened 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Over four miles in the mud it may pay to side with a horse off a light weight and whilst Deep Quest could run well at his local track, it is the strong stayer BALLYGALLEY BOB who is taken to oblige ahead of Toulouse-Lautrec and Blaze Ahead. Nick Williams has won two of the last three renewals, including with The Risky Viking who competes again today. After some poor efforts he is now back down to a mark of 109, just 4lbs higher than when successful last year. However we prefer Ballygalley Bob who went close in a similar race here in March. Oliver Sherwood has his horses in good form and having won in this ground at Towcester before conditions should not hinder. Deep Quest is a regular here and won nicely last time; the key to him may not be his 6lb rise in the weights but the extra distance today. All of Blaze Ahead's wins have come on right handed tracks but two recent runs have been average, Waking Ned was pulled up when last seen on the track in March but has good form on this ground, whilst Toulouse-Lautrec looked a picture on his reappearance but may just have tired late on. Present M'Lord is a bit of a plodder who may be suited by this test, Crank Hill has bits and pieces of form including a good third over hurdles at Newbury but he lacks experience over fences for a race like this, whilst Amazing Valour has a tasty weight and third in this race last year he may have been aimed at it again. A tough puzzle, with Ballygalley Bob fancied to be the missing piece.
Double Intruder (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Blundered 1st, always rear, hit 8th, ridden and struggling before 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 11, well behind Shouldhavehadthat (11-4) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Money Line (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Badly hampered and unseated rider in race won by Hello Bud (11-8) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov, 16 ran.
Toulouse-Lautrec (IRE) 10-3 (10-3) Raced keenly and prominent, joined leader approaching 5th, led before 9th, headed and no extra after last, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Hasanpour (10-9) at Huntingdon 3m 2f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 18-1 (10-9) Never travelling, always in rear, 8th of 16, well behind Hello Bud (11-8) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Present M'lord (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) In touch, headway 4 out, ridden and every chance from 2 out, no extra near finish, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Mistress Nell (10-7) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Crank Hill 28-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 13th, tracked leading pair, held from 4 out, 3rd of 6, well behind Gone To Lunch (11-2) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (4) gd in Nov.
Ironside (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Led to after 2nd, chased winner to 8th, 3rd after, driven and lost touch from 14th, tailed off, 3rd of 5, 30l behind Georges Boy (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
BallyGalley Bob (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up, mistake 11th, blundered 13th, ridden and struggling well before 3 out, left poor 4th at last, 4th of 6, 28l behind Night Safe (11-11) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
The Risky Viking (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Held up, mistake 11th, headway from 13th, ridden after 4 out, soon one pace, 5th of 16, 19l behind Hello Bud (11-8) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Deep Quest 10-1 (11-12) Led until 4th, prominent, ridden to lead 4 out, stayed on, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Nov beating Folie A Deux (11-3) by 5l, 6 ran.
Waking Ned (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Star Player (10-12) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Mar, 16 ran.
Blaze Ahead (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden 11th, lost place, stayed on again from 3 out, 3rd of 12, 36l behind Ashwell (11-6) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Amazing Valour (IRE) 25-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 16th, weakened after 4 out, 9th of 16, well behind Hello Bud (11-8) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Zimbabwe (FR) 7-1 (10-6) Led to 3rd, pushed along before 9th, remained prominent, ridden after 3 out, rider dropped whip after 2 out, switched right, stayed on well, 3rd of 7, nk behind Fourpointone (11-8) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
