held up, headway 4 out, one paced from next
towards rear, ridden 4 out, pulled up 2 out
tracked leader, ridden 2 out, not pace to challenge flat
made all, jumped soundly, stayed on well from last
Ballybriggan was having only his second start since May when third at Newcastle. He should be spot on now and is preferred to Southwell winner Billy Cuckoo, well beaten despite making the frame on his latest outing. CLARAGH NATIVE was tailed off at Doncaster but that may have come too soon after running De Boitron close at Wetherby. Dropping down a grade for this, Martin Todhunter's charge gets the vote to return to winning ways. Alderbrook Lad got no further than the first at this track last time and is upped in class for this.
Claragh Native (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) In rear, weakened 5 out, 6th of 7, well behind Off The Ground (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Dec.
Ballybriggan (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Zaru (11-11) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Dec.
Billy Cuckoo (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Led to 8th, in touch, regained lead 10th, headed after 5 out, outpaced in 3rd before next, soon no chance with front pair, just held on for moderate 3rd near finish, 3rd of 6, 31l behind Badger Foot (9-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Alderbrook Lad (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Prominent when fell 1st, in a race won by Coax (11-1) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec, 7 ran.
