sometimes jumped left, chased leaders, led and went left 4th, made most after, hung left and stayed on well under pressure run-in
held up last, mistake 2nd, pushed along and weakened 9th, tailed off and jumped left from 11th, eased
chased leader, led approaching 3rd until next, chased winner, every chance briefly 4 out, ridden and one pace when lost 2nd between last 2
not that fluent, led until approaching 3rd, chased leaders, mistake 10th, hit 3 out, ridden and went 2nd between last 2, stayed on same pace run-in
There may only be four runners in this but it’s a tricky puzzle to solve. Course winner Ballyarthur hasn’t taken to fences so far but still has time on his side and is receiving plenty of weight from the others. Acting Lass has gone up 6lb for beating a subsequent winner at Market Rasen but is very lightly raced. Cultivator found 2m too short here last time but we’ll take a chance that BALLYDINE has more to offer after his second at Haydock. That was his first run for more than 18 months and he was closing down the winner all the way to the line.
Acting Lass (IRE) Evensfav (11-8) Tracked leader, joined leader 9th, led approaching 3 out, ridden out, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Bordeaux Bill (11-1) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Cultivator 2-1 (11-2) Chased winner, pushed along before 4 out, no impression from next, kept on, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Tommy Silver (11-2) at Leicester 2m (3) gf in Nov.
Ballydine (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 2nd briefly 8th, mistake 11th, ridden before 4 out, rallied to chased winner 3 out, 2 lengths down flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 6, nk behind Eamon An Cnoic (11-2) at Haydock 2m 5f (2) hvy in Dec.
Ballyarthur (IRE) 2-1 (11-1) Not always fluent, tracked leaders, lost place 3 out, weakened and pulled up before next, at Towcester 2m 4f (4) gd in Nov.
