led until headed 3 out, weakened soon after
chased leader until not fluent and lost 2nd 4 out, weakened after next
in touch, hit 3rd, not fluent next, lost place 6th, headway before 11th, ridden 14th, stayed on from next went modest 3rd before last
chased leaders from 4th, ridden and stayed on same pace from 4 out
chased leaders until pushed along in 6th 4th, weakened before 14th, behind when mistake 3 out, pulled up before next
tended to jump left, towards rear, headway to 6th when not fluent 7th, went left 11th, weakened soon after, nochance when mistake 3 out, tailed off
jumped poorly, blundered 1st and next, detached in rear, reminders 10th, mistakes 11th and next, soon tailed off, pulled up after 14th
held up and behind, good headway 11th, chased leading trio before 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, led soon after 2 out, clear last, stayed on strongly
chased leading pair, went 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, hit 2 out, headed soon after, no chance with winner approaching last
The handicapper has done Star Beat no favours, raising him a massive 12lb for what was admittedly a very easy success at Catterick. This will be tougher and Irish raider Bally Wall is amongst those likely to get involved. Ian Ferguson's charge is just 2lb higher than when scoring at Ayr in April and continues in decent form. Lockstown would probably prefer more testing conditions while New Shuil only landed a moderate novices' event here last time and this is a much stronger event. Isla Pearl Fisher was still in front when coming to grief at the last at Ayr on his hat-trick event but the handicapper has compounded the misery with a 4lb rise. BALLABROOK was beaten 12 lengths in Star Beat's Catterick race but was staying on very strongly from the rear in the closing stages. With a more forceful ride and a big weight pull he can reverse the form and take this for Donald McCain.
Go Silver Bullet (FR) 2-1fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, lost place 11th, soon outpaced, no impression from 3 out, 4th of 6, 32l behind Retrievethelegend (11-8) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Jul.
Top Dressing (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, pushed along and outpaced from 14th, no impression after, 6th of 14, 26l behind Star Beat (10-11) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Bally Wall (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) In rear, carried left 1st, soon tracking leaders, chased leader after 5th, led 3 out, ridden approaching next, kept on and edged left run-in, headed towards finish, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind Dove Hill (10-12) at Carlisle 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Lockstown 11-4 (10-10) Held up in touch, soon tracked leaders, blundered 12th and soon dropped rear, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on gamely run-in, just held near finish, 2nd of 6, hd behind Top It All (10-2) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
New Shuil (IRE) 15-2 (10-9) Tracked leader and keen, not fluent 10th, hit 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, led after last, ridden and kept on well towards finish, won at Musselburgh 3m nov chs (4) gd in Nov beating Elzahann (10-9) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Ballabrook (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, in rear from 10th, not fluent 14th, plugged on from 3 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 14, 12l behind Star Beat (10-11) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Soprano (GER) 20-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden after 5th, never dangerous, 9th of 12, 38l behind Cunning Clarets (11-7) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Isla Pearl Fisher 7-2 (10-8) Held up behind, mistake 13th, driven and headway 5 out, went 2nd after 3 out, led between last, ridden and narrow advantage when fell last, in a race won by Eyre Square (11-9) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 9 ran.
Festival King (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) In touch on outside, driven and outpaced after 5 out, ridden after next, stayed on to go 3rd after last, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 9, 17l behind Schindlers Society (11-12) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Star Beat 9-1 (10-11) Close up, led approaching 4th, not fluent 5th, clear after 2 out, eased flat, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec beating Zitenka (11-7) by 7l, 14 ran.
