jumped right at times, made all, pressed after 3 out until last, stayed on well
last when mistake and unseated rider 1st
held up towards rear, hampered 5th, headway approaching 7th, 6 lengths 4th and ridden when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th until 11th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, headway 4th, not fluent 8th, chased winner 11th, ridden to challenge after 3 out until last, stayed on same pace
never going well and several slow jumps, chased leaders until 4th, behind 9th, tailed off
held up, 5th when fell 8th
in rear, mistake 2nd, hampered 5th, left 4th 4 out, no chance, tailed off
Ballyallia Man was outclassed behind Cedre Bleu at Newbury last time and should find this easier. SYBARITE also has his sights lowered, however, and makes more appeal. The latter appeared to lose a bit of confidence when tailed off behind Champion Court in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last time but this opposition and these fences are a lot less daunting and Nigel Twiston-Davies' gelding can finally get off the mark over obstacles. Stars Du Granits makes his chasing debut but will strip fitter for a run over timber and Suburban Bay still has some scope, but Twentyfourcarat may just need the experience today.
Ballyallia Man (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Took keen hold in 4th, slight peck and outpaced 8th, struggling and no chance after, last of 4, 21l behind Cedre Bleu (10-11) at Newbury 2m 1f nov chs (4) gs in Jan.
Chapel House 5-1 (10-0) Held up in rear when fell 10th, in a race won by Dot Or Feather (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 5f Am hcp ch 0-100 (5) sft in Jan, 7 ran.
Dune Shine 9-2 (10-3) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 4 out, mistake 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 12, 23l behind Dais Return (11-1) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Kauto Relko (FR) 11-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders, slightly hampered 10th, hit 12th, 3rd when not fluent 2 out, not fluent last, pressing winner flat, held close home, 3rd of 4, 3/4l behind Pentiffic (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft in Jan.
Stars Du Granits (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Chased leading pair, hit 3rd and next, fell 4 out, in a race won by Empire Levant (11-4) at Newbury 2m con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
Suburban Bay 12-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, hit 9th, headway approaching 13th, disputing 4th under pressure after 3 out, left modest 3rd next, 3rd of 11, 16l behind Triolo D'Alene (10-8) at Ascot 2m 3f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Sybarite (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Chasing leaders when jumped slowly 1st, dropped rear when jumoed slowly again next, reminder after 7th, lost touch from next, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Champion Court (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Twentyfourcarat (IRE) 5-4fav (10-12) Led, headed and went left 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before next, 4th of 10, 40l behind Lovcen (10-9) at Towcester 2m 5f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gd in Nov.
Cecily Parsley 40-1 (10-12) Held up, 7 lengths 5th 4 out, no further progress, pressed for modest 4th 2 out, 5th of 6, 16l behind Alasi (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f mrs nov chs (5yo+) (4) gs in Jan.
