pressed leader, ridden before 3 out, close up 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat but could not match winner
held up in rear, headway 7th, travelled strongly behind leaders 3 out, edged ahead 2 out, ridden clear flat
midfield, lost place and ridden 7th, stayed on from 2 out
led, ridden before 3 out, headed 2 out, one pace after
towards rear, steady headway 6th, progress to chase leaders 4 out, ridden before 3 out, weakened 2 out
midfield, towards rear 5th, ridden and lost touch before 4 out, tailed off 3 out
keen behind leaders, chased leader 4 out, close up 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
held up in rear, ridden after 4 out, tailed off 3 out
Ballyandy is in the veteran stage now but showed he retains some ability with a fifth last time at Aintree. Solo Saxophone has won five times on the Flat since last successful over hurdles so goes on the shortlist but HAAFAPIECE is a standing dish here and has looked as good as ever this season. He won over course and distance on his reappearance and was a close third off this mark last time so might be the one to beat again. Shannon Bridge won this last year and is only 3lb higher but has barely raised a gallop this season and his yard also run Boss Man Fred. Benson is eased in grade and the weights with Ayr dead-heater Glentruan another to consider.
Ballyandy 11-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, lost ground under 4 out, kept on same pace until ran on well flat, took 5th close home, 5th of 13, 9 3/4l behind Tamar Bridge (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Haafapiece 15-8fav (11-9) Raced wide towards rear, headway when bumped 3 out, ridden and every chance next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind No Risk Des Flos (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Benson 12-1 (10-6) Ridden in rear, always outpaced and behind, never travelling, 8th of 12, 27 1/4l behind Tritonic (11-0) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Shannon Bridge (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Kept wide, prominent, settled tracking leading pair 2nd, 2nd again 2 out until between last two, weakened soon after, last of 9, 31 1/4l behind Kansas City Chief (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Solo Saxophone (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Mid division, ridden and outpaced 3 out, went 3rd last, stayed on strongly flat, grabbed 2nd close home, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Earlofthecotswolds (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Boss Man Fred (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Held up in last pair, pushed along and struggling rear before 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Up For Parol (10-12) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Glentruan (IRE) 7-2jfav (11-7) Chased leader until 4th, challenged 2 out, led narrowly flat, hard pressed, joined on post, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Foster'sisland (11-5), 10 ran.
Friary Rock (FR) 25-1 (11-9) In rear, ridden after 10th and tailed off, pulled up before 2 out, at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
