tracked leaders, led 10th, clear after 2 out, ran on well
chased leaders, ridden to challenge 4 out, kept on same pace
held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, soon no impression
behind, some headway 4 out, never on terms
prominent, led 7th, headed 10th, soon driven, rallied approaching 2 out, kept on
held up towards rear, slow 2nd, headway halfway, soon no impression
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 5 out, never on terms
held up in rear, headway 4 out, soon under pressure and weakened
chased leaders, mistake 7th, under pressure next, soon behind, pulled up soon after
held up mid-division, weakened before 4 out
tracked leaders, lost place 8th, behind when pulled up 11th
led until 7th, remained prominent, fell 9th
BALLABROOK makes plenty of appeal in this handicap chase; the list of dangers is headed by Sea Venture and Fred Bojangals. The selection chased home The Snail at Ludlow last time and that form reads well in the context of this race. A slight rise in the weights looks fair enough and he is taken to open his account over fences. Sea Venture could be the main danger as Tim Walford's 8-year-old made a pleasing impression when winning last time out on his chasing debut.He won with a bit in hand on that occasion and it will be interesting to see if he can build on that today. Fred Bojangals beat Mill House Girl in good style here back in November over 2m and as long as the ground doesn't get any easier then he should run his race, especially as this longer trip will not inconvenience him. Categorical has won over the course and distance; in fact has run well here several times so he could go well at a price. An interesting contest but Ballabrook makes most appeal and he gets the vote.
Quito Du Tresor (FR) 8-1 (9-12) Held up, jumped right 1st, went 2nd at 10th, bumped badly 6 out, led approaching next, headed approaching 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 3rd of 5, 29l behind Skippers Brig (11-12) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Top Dressing (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Held up, weakened 4 out, 4th of 6, 40l behind I'moncloudnine (11-1) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Sea Venture (IRE) 11-4 (11-11) Held up, in touch, went 2nd at 11th, led 2 out, stayed on well, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec beating Lindseyfield Lodge (10-9) by 5l, 7 ran.
Kalmo Bay (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Held up, headway from 4 out, ridden after next, one pace, 5th of 10, 12l behind Sycho Fred (10-1) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Fred Bojangals (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Nov beating Mill House Girl (11-12) by 6l, 9 ran.
Ballabrook (IRE) 4-1 (9-12) Held up in touch, took keen hold, went 2nd last, hung left flat, ran on well, just failed, 2nd of 7, ns behind The Snail (10-11) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Euro American (GER) 6-1 (11-12) Held up, headway to chase leaders 5 out, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, 5th of 6, well behind Ngong Hills (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in May.
Categorical 17-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway and in touch 6th, lost place when mistake 11th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 10, 41l behind Toulouse Express (10-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Sierra Peak (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Close up, left in lead 6th, blundered 12th, headed approaching 13th, weakened from 3 out, 4th of 8, 38l behind Nelliedonethat (10-11) at Musselburgh 3m cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Yawl Springs (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Held up, stumbled approaching 4th, ridden 3 out, soon beaten, 7th of 11, 24l behind Amir Pasha (11-1) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 3yo+ (5) gs in Dec.
Yankee Holiday (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, soon tracking leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 32l behind Nelliedonethat (10-11) at Musselburgh 3m cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Strobe 5-1 (10-10) Tracked leader until 11th, weakening when left 3rd and hampered 4 out, 3rd of 7, 33l behind Sea Venture (11-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
