led to 2nd, blundered 3rd, led 7th, headed 10th, outpaced from 5 out, kept on from 4 out, no impression
tracked leaders, blundered 1st, led 5th, headed 7th, ridden before 3 out, no extra and lost 2nd place from last
towards rear, weakened from 13th
held up towards rear, chased leaders 6th, led 10th, headed 5 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leader, led 2nd, headed 5th, lost place after 9th, pushed along to chase leaders before 12th, led 5 out, clear after 2 out, stayed on strongly
held up mid-division, mistake 8th, reminders after 9th, weakened from 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
held up in rear, blundered 10th, mistake 12th, went 4th and mistake 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, chased winner from last, no impression
Flat tracks suit Buffalo Bob and he's won off higher marks in the past. The top weight has to go on the short-list while it's difficult to fault the consistency of Ballybough Gorta, though it looked as though the handicapper had nailed him last time and Peter Bowen's stable is going through a bit of a quiet spell. ALLANARD travelled well and looked all over the winner jumping the last at Newcastle last week only to get collared on the line by the useful Benny Be Good. Effectively racing off a 6lb lower mark here, he can recapture the winning thread as Vincitore isn't easy to catch right and this trip stretches Montoya's Son and Lord Ryeford. Satou won at Sandown and Towcester last season but his jumping will be tested by these stiff fences.
Buffalo Bob (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Led until 3rd, stayed prominent, ridden after 14th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 15, 40l behind Sound Accord (10-4) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Vincitore (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway when pushed wide after 2nd, close 3rd 15th, soon ridden, went 2nd 3 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on flat, pressed winner when carried left close home, 2nd of 14, nk behind Armenian Boy (11-7) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Montoya's Son (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Tracked leader until fell 3rd, in a race won by Alvarado (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs, 12 ran.
Lord Ryeford (IRE) (10-5) 2nd of 18, 8l behind Le Bacardy (11-9) at Clairefontaine(FR) 2m 3f clm hdl sft in Aug.
Ballybough Gorta (IRE) 3-1 (10-11) Prominent, not fluent 4th, pushed along from 6th, outpaced 4 out, went 2nd when jumped left and stumbled last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Lost Glory (11-12) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Sep.
Allanard (IRE) 33-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, headway to lead after 4 out, soon ridden, 4 lengths clear last, kept on same pace flat, headed and no extra near finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Benny Be Good (11-12) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs.
Satou (FR) 4-1fav (10-5) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway 4th, left 2nd 6th, not fluent next, blundered 13th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, well behind Summery Justice (11-1) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Apr.
