held up in rear, steady on outside before 3 out, not much room before last, stayed on under pressure flat, went 3rd close home
chased leaders on inside, mistake 3rd, soon lost place, ridden towards rear after 4 out, headway before 3 out, wekaned 2 out
took keen hold, held up, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders and every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last
chased leader, led 2nd until headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
chased leaders on outside, hit 4th, weakened before 2 out, 8th and no chance when hampered after last, plugged on again flat
chased leaders, led 3 out, strongly pressed soon after, kept on under pressure from last, caught on post
held up in rear, headway towards outside approaching 3 out, chased leaders before last, stayed on same pace flat, lost 3rd close home
led until 2nd, stayed prominent until lost place 4th, soon in rear, tailed off
took keen hold, held up towards rear, ridden and struggling before 3 out, tailed off
held up, headway from 2 out, staying on and going well when not much room unsighted and fell last
in touch, ridden and weakened soon after 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 2 out
chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 4 out, tailed off
held up in rear, remiders after 2nd, hit 4th, headway going well when hit 3 out, still on bit after next, switched left before last, found little under pressure flat
chased leaders, weakened before 2 out, no chance when hit last
held up in mid-division, smooth headway before 3 out, to chase leaders 2 out, strong run under pressure flat, led on line
chased leaders, challenged upsides and every chance 3 out, blundered 2 out, weakened flat
towards rear, lost touch 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
took keen hold, held up in mid division, headway before 3 out, weakened approachin2 out, behind and pulled up before last
Several of these are capable of better and this doesn't look easy to solve. Ballybriggan's Aintree form appears solid and he's more experienced than most, Caught By Witness is thrown in on his bumper form and has AP's assistance while Paul Nicholls considers Bold Addition well-treated so this handicap debutant is afforded maximum respect. However, ROBAIN looks the horse to beat on the back of his Wetherby romp and while to a degree he's already played his hand there should be more to come, hopefully enough to negate a 7lb rise in the weights. Crystal Rock promises to win off this rating if consenting to settle and that's entirely possible with Barry Geraghty taking over, indeed he's expected to reverse previous form with Mark Of Love while Rajamand showed more promise in a Listed contest at Kempton and should improve for the switch to handicaps.
Ballybriggan (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Always prominent, headway to lead before 3 out, driven next, ridden flat, stayed on well towards finish, won at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gs in Oct beating Mediolanum (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 16 ran.
Lucaindubai (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, left in lead bend after 2nd, headed after 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, lost 2nd flat, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Astracad (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Caught By Witness (IRE) 11-8fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, smooth headway to track leaders after 3 out, outpaced next, 5th and beaten when hit last, 5th of 9, 18l behind Get It On (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Beidh Tine Anseo (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inside, hit 4th, outpced 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure from next, no impression, 4th of 11, 16l behind Astracad (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Nodforms Violet (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, challenged 3 out to next, soon ridden and one pace, no impression approaching last, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Baaher (10-4) at Perth 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Crystal Rock (IRE) 10-3fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, driven 3 out, ridden and effort on inside next, stayed on under pressure to chase winner flat, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Mark of Love (10-9) at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gd.
Bold Addition (FR) 9-4 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led and mistake 2 out, ridden and headed last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Chain Of Command (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
American World (FR) 20-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, weakened 3 out, 10th of 15, well behind Mister Hyde (11-1) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Robain (FR) 9-4fav (10-11) Took keen hold, tracked leading pair, pushed along after 3 out, went 2nd before and blundered 2 out, led between last 2, driven clear from last, won at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct beating King's Revenge (11-4) by 6l, 6 ran.
Rajamand (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon chasing leaders, weakening when mistake last, 5th of 10, 20l behind Karasenir (11-6) at Kempton 2m Listed nov hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Highland Love 40-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, bumped 1st, not fluent 3 out, well held by front pair approaching last, 3rd of 18, 13l behind Andhaar (11-0) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Ballinteni 8-1 (10-12) With leader, led 2 out, driven and headed between last 2, ridden flat, kept on, 2nd of 13, 2 3/4l behind Iolith (10-12) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Vertueux (FR) 15-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, hampered 1st and rider lost iron until after 2nd, went 2nd after 6th, led approaching 3 out, drew clear flat, eased close home, won at Ludlow 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May beating Fidelis (11-12) by 8l, 10 ran.
Khayar (IRE) 9-2 (10-4) Mid-division, headway into 4th 2 out, progress on outer to lead entering straight, soon ridden, headed run-in, rider dropped whip 150yds out, kept on, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Turner Brown (11-7) at Punchestown 2m hcp hdl 80-109 gd in Oct.
Beside The Fire 10-3 (11-0) Tracked leaders, chased winner after 3 out, no impression 2 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Paint The Clouds (11-0) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Devil To Pay 9-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 4th, led approaching 6th until ridden and headed 2 out, no impression approaching last, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Ciceron (11-7) at Bangor 2m 1f 4yo nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Mar.
Wild Desert (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway 3 out, one pace from next, 5th of 13, 9l behind Drill Sergeant (11-5) at Haydock 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Captain Sully (IRE) 5-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders on inner, ridden in 3rd 2 out, went 2nd at last, kept on run-in, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Flight Control (10-11) at Clonmel 2m mdn hdl gf in Sep.
Mark of Love (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, headway 3 out, led before next, ridden and edged left under pressure flat, kept on, won at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gd beating Crystal Rock (11-9) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
