tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, not fluent 3 out, soon led, clear when jumped left last, ran on well
took keen hold, held up in touch, close up when fell 12th
chased leaders, slightly hampered 10th, ridden 4 out, not clear run briefly and switched left after 3 out, chased winner last, stayed on, no impression
held up, not fluent 4th, hampered 12th, headway 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, not fluent 13th, behind from next
jumped right, led, jumped slowly and headed 10th, led again 12th, hit 3 out, soon headed, weakened last
chased leader, led 10th to 12th, weakened approaching 3 out, blundered last
held up, jumped slowly 11th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened well before 2 out, mistake last, tailed off
Back For The Craic is taken to beat the likes of Iris De Balme and Castlecomer, with Lenny best of the remainder. Back For The Craic is very lightly-raced, having had just the four outings under rules so far. The son of Bob Back looks a true chaser in the making, and judged on his two efforts over the bigger obstacles so far, at Taunton and Fakenham, he will prove hard to beat. Nicky Henderson's charge was the only one to give the odds-on Dom D'Orgeval a race at the Norfolk track 16-days ago, and the feeling is that this stiffer track will bring his stamina into play. Iris De Balme should give a good account as he slogged through the heavy ground to finish a close second to Passenger Omar at Warwick, and his earlier second to the high-class Snakebite puts him in the frame at least. Castlecomer has eight-lengths to make up on the selection on latest running so is passed over again, while Lenny in turn is held by Iris De Balme. Back For The Craic may be one to follow and should be supported here.
Back For The Craic (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, headway 12th, led after 14th, headed 3 out, kept on, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Dom d'Orgeval (11-5) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gs.
Ballyman (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Not fluent in rear, jumped slowly 5th, soon lost touch, continued, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Royal Shakespeare (11-2) at Kempton 2m nov chs (2) gs.
Castlecomer (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) In touch, lost place 13th, rallied 3 out, kept on, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Dom d'Orgeval (11-5) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gs.
Iris De Balme (FR) 11-4 (11-6) Track leaders, led 12th, headed last, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Passenger Omar (11-3) at Warwick 3m 2f beg chs (4) hvy in Dec.
Jesnic (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Soon chasing leaders, ridden after 12th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Eveon (10-2) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May, 15 ran.
Jet Magic (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Chased winner, mistake 6th, weakened 10th and pulled up at the 13th in race won by Florida Dream (11-7) at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
Lenny 15-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, under pressure 11th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 6, 27l behind Chopneyev (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (4) sft.
Tenderal (FR) (9-1) Prominent, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 4, 2 1/2l behind Hurdle (10-3) at Auteuil 2m 1f clm hdl gd in Apr '04.
