in touch, mistake 12th, outpaced 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
in touch, headway to lead 4 out, drew clear from next, stayed on well
towards rear, headway 13th, ridden 17th, stayed on same pace, never troubled leaders
led to 6th, in touch, outpaced 10th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 18th
always behind, pulled up before 13th
always behind, pulled up before 18th
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 17th, behind when pulled up before 5 out
in touch, outpaced 17th, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
prominent, led 6th, headed before 17th, soon outpaced, no danger after
towards rear, struggling 9th, behind when pulled up before 17th
tracked leaders, challenged 14th, outpaced 17th, 4th and beaten when blundered 3 out
towards rear, struggling halfway, pulled up before 18th
behind, outpaced 16th, behind when pulled up before 18th
mistakes, always behind, pulled up before 17th
mid-division, outpaced 16th, no danger after
mid-division, lost place before 9th, soon behind, pulled up before 17th
soon pushed along in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
prominent, led before 17th, headed when hit 4 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression
Another 'National', this time the 'Highland' version, and preference is for BALLYGALLEY BOB ahead of Kells Castle, Samsbro and top-weight Florida Dream. Last-year's winner Laertes is back for another crack; he wears blinkers for the first time and is now rated 125, some 17lb higher than a year ago, so is passed over in favour of Ballygalley Bob. This trip looks ideal for this strong-stayer who is only 7lb higher than when winning at Warwick in March. The ground is not a problem for this son of Bob Back and he looks worth siding with. Twilight Eagle and Natoumba are better than they both showed last time, whilst The Gangerman and Florida Dream give Nigel Twiston-Davies a strong hand. Kells Castle is rated 92 and creeps into the race at the bottom of the handicap; Gordon Elliott's gelding doesn't have a fantastic strike-rate over fences but his recent run at Newton Abbot was eye-catching and he will be at home on this ground. Samsbro bounced back to form last time, whilst Millanymare represents shrewd connections who must be afforded utmost respect despite a poor season. Panama At Once has run well over this sort of trip before but there is an argument to say that he is high enough in the weights now, whilst Darina's Boy has a 9lb rise in the weights for a recent win and that looks enough. We are happy to plump for Ballygalley Bob.
Florida Dream (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Minella Four Star (11-11) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf, 9 ran.
Laertes 33-1 (11-10) With leaders, hit 6th, hit 8th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 12, 41l behind Great Approach (10-9) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
The Gangerman (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Chased leader to 16th, soon driven, weakened 3 out, left poor 3rd last, 3rd of 6, 25l behind Keenan's Future (11-1) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Ballyvoge (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Held up, reminders 6th, driven 3 out, behind when pulled up before last, in a race won by Open de L'Isle (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar, 11 ran.
Natoumba (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Towards rear, slow jumps 1st and 2nd, headway to chase leaders next, mistake 6, dropped rear quickly 10th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Teeming Rain (11-1) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar, 14 ran.
Twilight Eagle (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, 5th and in touch when slithered badly on landing 12th, not recover, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Team Chaser (10-12) at Towcester 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 7 ran.
Samsbro (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Led, headed after 7th, led again 12th, ridden when headed 3 out, held from last, 2nd of 14, 7l behind Mr Big (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
The Luder (IRE) 18-1 (11-7) Led, mistake 1st, hampered by loose horse and headed 8th, led again next, headed approaching 4 out, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 43l behind College Ace (11-8) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Mar.
Darina's Boy 9-2fav (10-5) Prominent, led 5th, made rest, clear from 3 out, won at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating Korelo (9-7) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
Panama At Once 5-1 (9-7) Held up, close up 6th and ridden when blundered badly and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Mister Apple's (9-9) at Kelso 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar, 7 ran.
BallyGalley Bob (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Led, badly hampered by loose horse and unseated rider 6th, in a race won by Minella Four Star (11-11) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf, 9 ran.
Airhill Lady (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) In rear, outpaced 9th, never dangerous, 4th of 11, 21l behind Garleton (10-4) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Millanymare (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, 12th of 19, 35l behind Arc En Ciel (10-8) at Cork 2m 4f hcp chs 0-123 gd.
Scarvagh Diamond (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Tracked leader, blundered 4 out, ridden and soon one pace, 4th of 11, 13l behind Or de Grugy (11-6) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Eight Fifty Six (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Keen, led, headed 3 out, soon eased and pulled up before next, in a race won by Tampa Boy (11-6) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd, 9 ran.
Finzi (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Led early, outpaced and jumped left 15th, chased leading pair from 2 out, held, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Hazeljack (10-2) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Another Rum (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Held up on outside, outpaced 12th, rallied 14th, weakened from next, 4th of 6, 14l behind Skenfrith (10-0) at Ayr 3m 5f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Kells Castle 4-1 (10-12) In touch, reminders from 7th, outpaced after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, snatched 3rd near finish, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Ede'iff (10-3) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Mar.
