chased leaders on outer, chased winner last, kept on, always held
held up mid-division, pushed along after 5 out, in 5th approaching next, went moderate 4th last, no impression
held up towards rear, pushed along and weakened after 5 out
held up towards rear and keen, not fluent 5th, blundered 8th, headway next, led 12th, not fluent and headed 3 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division on outer, in rear from 5th, not fluent 6th, pushed along approaching 10th, never dangerous
with leader and keen, led 2nd, hit 3rd, blundered 8th, hit 11th, headed and weakened approaching next, tailed off when pulled up after 5 out
led to 2nd, remained handy, led 3 out, clear approaching last, stayed on strongly, driven out
held up in rear, headway 11th, one pace from 4 out, no impression
Benny Be Good produced a much better round of jumping when beating Catch Bob over this trip at Sedgefield in November. He was conceding 7lb to the winner, who was ridden by a conditional jockey, and they meet on the same terms here. Graham Lee takes over on the runner-up, which is significant, but the winner can confirm the form. There was plenty to like about the performance of PREMIER SAGAS in what looked a competitive handicap over the C&D earlier this month. Nicky Richards' charge couldn't quite match Sagalyrique in the closing stages but battled all the way to the line and this should be within his compass. Winning point-to-pointer Ballycolin ran very well over three miles at Musselburgh in November and looks best of the rest.
Benny Be Good 11-4fav (11-2) Led headed after 1st, led 12th, headed narrowly 2 out, led and not fluent last, kept on well towards finish, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Nov beating Catch Bob (10-9) by 4l, 9 ran.
Ballycolin 20-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders in 4th, left 3rd 11th, disputed 2nd 4 out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind New Shuil (10-9) at Musselburgh 3m nov chs (4) gd in Nov.
Bertie Milan (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden after 4 out, soon outpaced, kept on from last, 5th of 16, 3 1/2l behind Lively Baron (11-8) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs.
Catch Bob (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, joined leaders 13th, narrow lead 2 out, ridden and headed last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Benny Be Good (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Nov.
Mister Marker (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in touch in 4th, weakened after 5 out, mistake next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Captain Americo (11-0) at Newcastle 3m beg chase (4) sft, 6 ran.
Pericam 6-1 (11-7) won at Mosshouses 3m ptp gd in May beating Cool Vic (12-0) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Premier Sagas (FR) 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, challenged 4 out, led after 2 out, soon ridden, headed last 75 yards, kept on, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Sagalyrique (11-9) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Steady Tiger (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, blundered 6th, not fluent 8th, weakened from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Captain Americo (11-0) at Newcastle 3m beg chase (4) sft, 6 ran.
