tracked leaders, lost place 6th, slow next, rallied 8th, weakened 5 out, pulled up next
held up in touch, headway under pressure 3 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 6th, weakened 8th, pulled up 5 out
held up in touch, headway 5 out, led 3 out, stayed on strongly
held up in rear, outpaced 5 out, rallied 3 out, kept on well closing stages, never a threat
soon led, headed 5 out, mistake next, weakening when jumped left 2 out
chased leaders, led 5 out, not fluent when headed 3 out, no extra closing stages
tracked leaders, lost place 4 out
BALLY LAGAN is on a roll and the second has franked the merit of his course and distance victory last month. He has another 6lb to carry but a hat-trick could be on the cards as he is still getting 13lb from another recent course winner Skint. Emperor Commodos has been running better than form figures would suggest but Spock is returning from a break. No No Cardinal hasn’t won over fences in almost two years while Mr Cardle is a long-standing maiden. Ballyegan’s recent win came in a point-to-point.
Skint 9-4fav (11-9) Tracked leader, led before 2nd, clear when mistake 3 out, ridden out, won at Taunton 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Mar beating Bobonyx (10-2) by 6l, 7 ran.
Emperor Commodos 25-1 (11-8) Towards rear, plugging on in 5th when stumbled badly 3 out, no chance after, 5th of 10, 18 1/4l behind Innocent Girl (11-12) at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Bestwork D'olivate (FR) 25-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, lost place before 4 out, soon pulled up, at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Bally Lagan (IRE) 7-2 (10-0) Tracked leaders on outside, 2nd after 7th, challenged next, led 10th, headed after 4 out, led 3 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on, drawing clear towards finish, won at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Mar beating Starkie (11-8) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Mr Cardle (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Off the pace in last, slow 6th, not fluent and losing touch 9th, went modest 3rd from 4 out, 3rd of 4, 15l behind Gino Trail (11-8) at Ludlow 2m (3) sft in Mar.
Spock (FR) 7-2 (10-10) Led from 2nd, made rest, pressed from 2 out, just held on, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Oct beating Show's Over (11-1) by hd, 7 ran.
No No Cardinal (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Chased leaders in 4th, led before 4 out, headed before last, no extra and lost 2nd place close home, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Flashman (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp (5) gf in Mar.
Ballyegan (IRE) 7-4fav (12-0) Made all; comf, won at Cothelstone 3m gs in Mar beating Louis Pasteur (12-0) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
