slow 1st, in rear, outpaced 9th
in touch, mistake 6th, headway 9th, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, chased winner 3 out, ridden next, kept on one pace
led 1st, tracked leader, hit 2nd, led again 5th, made rest, 3 lengths clear last, eased towards finish
led 2nd, headed 5th, tracked winner until mistake 3 out, weakened next
Pencreek and Light N Strike make their chasing debuts with the latter looking more favourably handicapped on hurdling form. Ballinsker has struggled over fences so far but both Naizagai and ISOLATE placed over the larger obstacles last time. The former found one too good at Sedgefield but the latter’s second to the progressive Courtland at Newton Abbot looks stronger form so Alan King’s charge gets the vote.
Ballinsker (IRE) 5-2 (10-9) Always last, pushed along after 4 out, well beaten 3 out, last of 4, 21 1/2l behind Mick Pastor (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (3) gs in Sep.
Pencreek (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Mid-division, good headway before 3 out, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, every chance last, no extra and lost two places final 50yds, 4th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Lady Reset (10-4) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Light N Strike (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Raced in touch, went second 7th, joined winner and went clear after 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, held approaching last, kept on flat, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Will Carver (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f mdn (4) gd in May.
Isolate (FR) 3-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 2nd, awkward next, headed last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 4, 5 1/2l behind Courtland (11-2) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Naizagai 11-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, led with over a circuit to go, ridden and headed 3 out, still close up when mistake 2 out, pressed winner going to last, stayed on but no extra, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Crack Du Ninian (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
