Bertie's Ballet was second in a similar race at Wetherby on his hurdling debut while Helnwein beat a subsequent winner on his first try over timber at Warwick. Lump Sum landed the odds in impressive fashion at Ffos Las but has to give 5lb to SPIRITS BAY, who was noted staying on strongly at Sandown behind the odds-on Southoftheborder. Taras Halls may need more experience but Personal Ambition got the better of last Saturday’s Newbury winner Jingko Blue at Warwick last month so can’t be ignored.
Helnwein (IRE) 10-11fav (11-0) Front mid-division, went 4th home turn, pushed along and led before 2 out, soon ridden, not fluent last, kept on, always doing enough, won at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Nov beating Toonagh Warrior (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 17 ran.
Lump Sum (FR) 2-5fav (11-4) Raced keenly early, tracked leaders, smooth headway to lead 3 out, eased clear on bridle from 2 out, coasted home, won at Ffos Las 2m mdn (4) sft in Nov beating Onewaywest (11-4) by 10l, 6 ran.
Personal Ambition (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, not fluent next, ran on, won at Warwick 2m 3f (4) sft in Nov beating Jingko Blue (10-13) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Bertie's Ballet 9-1 (11-0) Held up off the pace in 5th, headway into 3rd 2 out, went 2nd between last two, stayed on run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Favour And Fortune (11-5) at Wetherby 2m (2) hvy in Nov.
Spirits Bay 11-2 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway before 2 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner, stayed on, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Southoftheborder (11-4) at Sandown 2m mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Taras Halls (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, fell 3rd, at Wetherby 2m (4) sft in Nov.
