held up in touch, took closer order halfway, every chance when not fluent 3 out, led last, stayed on strongly (9 fences ommited)
chased leaders, mistake 5th, soon under pressure and weakened, tailed off
led, hard ridden when strongly challenged 3 out, headed next, rallied after last, faded final 150 yards
with leader, under pressure 4 out, mistake 2 out, blundered and unseated rider last
always behind, weakened 2 out, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, ridden to challenge after last, weakened final 200 yards
mid-division, headway halfway, soon chasing leaders, led 2 out, headed last, soon rallied, kept on same pace closing stages
Ballybough Gorta was only beaten a length over 2m6f here four weeks ago and Peter Bowen's chasers are always worth a second look on this track. But the handicapper has only put ROI DE GRADE up a pound for his close-up second behind La Pantera Rosa over C&D and Chris Bealby's charge can go one better today. Sycho Fred isn't getting any younger and may find the going a little too fast but may still be the pick of the remainder ahead of Perth second Via Archimede and Mad Professor.
Ballybough Gorta (IRE) 11-10fav (10-0) Tracked leaders in 4th, chased winner from 3 out, kept on run-in, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Bellaboosh (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jul.
Roi De Garde (FR) 6-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, headway before 8th, chased leaders 4 out, went 2nd before 3 out, soon every chance, kept on from last, 2nd of 14, 1l behind La Pantera Rosa (11-8) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Via Archimede (USA) 12-1 (11-3) Pressed leader, led 4th, headed 4 out, chased winner after, held from 2 out, not fluent last, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Fog Patches (11-10) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Bob Will (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Prominent, driven 10th, weakened before 4 out, 6th of 13, 50l behind Ballybough Gorta (10-1) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jul.
Sycho Fred (IRE) 22-1 (10-1) Held up in touch, under pressure 12th, soon weakened, 4th of 13, 34l behind Ballybough Gorta (10-1) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jul.
Mad Professor (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Raced in last pair off the pace, headway approaching 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Allerford Jack (12-0) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) gs.
Quayside Court (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Led to 7th, tracked leaders, led again 10th, headed and bumped 3 out, kept on same pace, weakened last, 4th of 14, 33l behind Allerford Jack (11-9) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Jul.