led, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
held up in touch, mistake 4 out, ridden to challenge approaching 2nd last, never on terms
tracked leader, led 2 out, driven clear, ran on well
held up in rear, weakened 3 out
held up in touch, lost place halfway, behind when pulled up 2 out
held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
pulled hard tracking leader, under pressure and mistake 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, lost place 3 out, soon beaten
held up towards rear, headway after 3rd last, chased leaders and mistake next, never able to challenge
held up in touch, effort approaching 2 out, soon one pace
BALLYBACH is selected in this contest with Love Of Tara and Bangkok Pete others under consideration. Tony McCoy is a rare booking for Nick Gifford and is noteworthy on that respect alone. Related to a number of staying types, there are valid excuses as to why he was unable to succeed over the minimum trip. Love Of Tara sets the benchmark. A winner at Towcester and Exeter, the mare has to carry two winners penalties minus a mares allowance. Bangkok Pete is an imponderable. On the positive, Brendan Powell's horses are running a lot more consistently than what they once were. Ashmolian is something of a regular at Fontwell though the going is a worry. Preuty Boy represents a shrewd outfit though was easy to back on debut. Mista Rossa had bits and pieces of form on the flat so his run at Hereford has to go down as a disappointment. Ballybach is the best option in a race where relatively few have serious claims.
Love of Tara 11-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, led after 3 out, clear approaching 2 out, eased considerably towards finish, won at Towcester 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Gentle Caribou (10-10) by 4 1/2l, 16 ran.
Ashmolian (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, under pressure 9th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Natural Action (12-0) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov, 7 ran.
Ballybach (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway from 3 out, ridden next, stayed on strongly towards finish, 4th of 11, 3/4l behind Ashfield's Dream (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Bangkok Pete (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 17l behind Inventor (10-9) at Ascot 2m hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Cash Calculator (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hampered 1st, dropped rear 6th, struggling after, 6th of 13, 35l behind Erzen (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in May.
Iveragh Lad (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Chased leader until 7th, weakened 9th, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Star Of Angels (11-0) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Light Entertainer 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway approaching 9th, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, 12th of 17, well behind Willies Way (12-0) at Newton Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Aug.
Mista Rossa 16-1 (10-12) Badly hampered 2nd, behind after, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Barafundle (10-12) at Hereford 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Peinture de Guerre (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, weakening when mistake 4 out, tailed off when pulled up approaching 3 out, in a race won by Finian's Rainbow (11-0) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
Preuty Boy (FR) 22-1 (10-4) Held up in 6th, hampered 3rd, pushed along and kept on steadily from 2 out, 4th of 7, 15l behind Nothing's Easy (11-0) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Princely Hero (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Held up, led 7th, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 15, 9l behind Dot's Delight (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) gs in Nov.
Rockandahardplace (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Led to 2nd, pressed leader, led 4th, ridden and headed 2 out, about 3 lengths 2nd and held when fell last, in a race won by Casual Garcia (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Nov, 6 ran.
Ice Bellini 50-1 (10-0) Held up, hit 2nd, headway to moderate 4th after 3 out, kept on into modest 3rd flat, tailed off, 3rd of 6, 39l behind The Betchworth Kid (10-12) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Nov.
