tended to jump left at some fences, led, driven approaching 3 out, joined next, not fluent, headed last, eased when held, flat
tracked leaders, mistake 8th, weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
not always fluent, held up in touch, not fluent 6th, blundered 9th, mistakes 13th and 15th, 3rd and well beaten before 3 out
tracked leader, badly blundered 2nd, blundered and lost place 9th, went 2nd again 11th, joined leader 2 out, good jump to lead last, driven and stayed on well flat
took keen hold, held up in touch, went 2nd 9th to 11th, weakened from 14th, tailed off when fell next
Ballycassidy has proved a revelation this season winning seven of his nine starts over fences, but he looks booked for second spot here behind the top-class prospect Strong Flow. Paul Nicholls' gelding is unlucky not to be coming into this with an unbeaten record, having tipped up at Aintree when looking as though he could go by Ballycassidy whenever he wanted. While he had been making hay in small contests, he did not disappoint when faced with his first real test in the Hennessy beating a strong field, admittedly not as strong as in previous years, but there is never an easy Hennessy and his defeat of the well-treated Joss Naylor was something to behold. Connections had been toying with the idea of taking on the big guns in the King George, but this is a valuable prize in its own right and the way the race has cut up, Strong Flow should have little more than a school round to collect. Ballcassidy, a useful hurdler quickly made up into an even better chaser. Peter Bowen's seven-year-old has proved wonderfully tough and consistent, and while he will run his race, Strong Flow should be too good for him. Irish raider Rule Supreme is held by the selection using Hedgehunter as a guide. He beat the latter three-lengths in a novices handicap in Ireland giving him 3lbs, while Hedgehunter was getting 10lbs off Strong Flow at Newbury and was beaten 27-lengths. So 3rd prize looks the best he can hope for. Kings Castle and the quirky Yorkshire will need to start before the rest if they are to be involved, so providing Strong Flow puts in a trouble free round he should have little difficulty collecting.
