led 2nd, clear from 4 out, hit last, easily
behind, headway to chase winner approaching 11, blundered and lost place 14th, rallied to go 2nd again after 3 out, no impression
led to 2nd, prominent, 4th and weakening when mistake 11th, soon pulled up lame
prominent, lost place 3rd, behind 5th, soon tailed off, took poor 3rd after 2 out
not fluent, soon tracking leader, ridden after 10th, soon weakened, tailed off when blundered 13th
held up, headway 12th, went 2nd 14th until after 3 out, 3rd and weakening when stumbled and unseated rider 2 out
First Ballot has an obvious chance and is taken to complete a quick hat-trick over fences with Sohapara and Lord Of Illusion most likely to be fighting out minor honours. The selection was much the best of these over hurdles and has taken well to the larger obstacles with wins at Bangor and Newton Abbot in his last two starts. David Elsworth's gelding has 20lbs in hand over Lord Of Illusion on official BHB ratings and should be too good for Tom George's gelding, who has also won his last two starts but has not faced opposition of the calibre of the selection. Former hunter and point-to-point winner Sohapara faces no easy task in a decent novices' chase but warrants respect. He rates a bigger threat than One For Me, who showed fair form over hurdles but has yet to reproduce that over fences. The remainder look to be out of their depth in a race that is taken to go to First Ballot.