with leader, led 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on well from last
led and keen, headed 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, took closer order 5th, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway 3 out to chase leaders, chased winner before 2 out, kept on and no impression
towards rear, went 4th after 5th, mistake 7th, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, lost place from 6th, soon weakened
BALBRIGGAN is probably the percentage call in an interesting opener. He won over hurdles at Perth before running well behind Saturday's big-race winner The Young Master over fences at Cheltenham. Red Danaher's fourth at Carlisle hinted at better to come while Quick Brew was only beaten a head by Pay The King over this trip at Wetherby 11 days ago. Amazing Blue Sky and Northside Prince are both useful on the Flat and Court Of Law has won a point-to-point, though was well beaten in a bumper here last month.
Balbriggan (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, blundered 4 out, ridden to chase leading pair after next, kept on same pace, no extra in clear 3rd flat, 3rd of 13, 9l behind The Young Master (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Amazing Blue Sky 100-1 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden before 3 out, no impression, 9th of 17, well behind The Grey Taylor (11-0) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd.
Court Of Law (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Tracked leader, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 11, 22l behind Professor Plum (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Oct.
Northside Prince (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Held up mid-division, hit 2nd and 4th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 10th of 14, well behind Alsahil (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Dec '11.
Quick Brew 20-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, headway before 5 out, chased leaders 4 out, led last, kept on run-in, headed towards finish, 2nd of 15, hd behind Pay The King (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Red Danaher (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Led, headed 2nd, tracked leader until 4 out, soon outpaced, ridden and headway 2 out, plugged on, 4th of 12, 19l behind Otago Trail (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Wildest Dreams (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Mid-division, closed on inside 11f out, lost place over 3f out, 7th of 8, 25l behind Echo Springs (10-12) at Aintree 2m 1f NH flat (4) gd in May.
