held up, hit 5th, headway approaching 8th, led narrowly 2 out, headed between last 2, weakened last
in touch, pushed along approaching 4th, tracked leaders approaching 8th, challenged 3 out, every chance last, ridden flat, stayed on to lead towards finish
held up, with leaders and mistake approaching 9th, weakened from 3 out
close up, hit 4th, pushed along after 6th, tailed off 9th, pulled up before 2 out
led, headed 2 out, regained lead between last 2, kept on flat, headed towards finish
prominent, weakened approaching 8th, pulled up before 9th
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, tailed off from 9th, pulled up before 3 out
held up, chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
With the stable maintaining good form we will side with BALLABRIGGS to outpoint Callerlilly, Tarateeno and Cornelia. It is some time now since the selection raced over hurdles, and he returns to this sphere from the same mark of 108 as when last seen in a novices' handicap at Aintree in November 2007. He has since shown some improvement over fences, where he is rated 12lbs higher, and he acts on soft ground. With the stable firing he looks worth chancing. Cornelia is stepped up in trip for this, and after staying on well over 2m 5f last time there is every chance that she will get home on ground she also enjoys. She probably won't be far away, and the same goes for heavy ground Towcester scorer Tarateeno, who stays well and has a 7lb rise to contend with. Callerlilly took a soft ground Exeter novices' handicap hurdle last month, but a 6lb rise found her out at Chepstow. She will probably try to make all here and they would do well not to let her get too far ahead on this testing ground. Dunbrody House is unproven in these conditions, while Woodlands Gem has a bit to prove and we suggest an interest in Ballabriggs.
BallaBriggs (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Held up mid-division, headway 11th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next, 12th of 13, well behind Kandjar D'allier (11-10) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Nov '08.
Tarateeno 11-2 (10-10) Held up mid-division, pushed along approaching 9th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led between last 2, kept on well, won at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov beating Barrys Ark (9-11) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Cornelia 20-1 (11-3) Stumbled 1st, chased leaders, outpaced after 8th, rallied approaching 2 out, hit last, stayed on, 4th of 17, 4l behind Raise You Five (10-13) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Woodlands Gem (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Held up, pushed along and hit 4th,soon struggling, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Tarateeno (10-10) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov, 12 ran.
Callerlilly 20-1 (10-4) Led after 1st, jumped left and mistake 3 out, headed next, soon hang left, weakened last, 3rd of 15, 12l behind Cross Kennon (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy.
Ordelia 25-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 8th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 16, well behind Love of Tara (11-2) at Towcester 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Dunbrody House 10-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, challenged 4 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 11, 31l behind Bob 'n' You (10-3) at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Oct.
Eskimo Pie (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) With leader, mistake 1st, soon lost place, weakened from 6th, tailed off, 12th of 13, well behind Winterwood (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Gunnasayso 12-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 8th of 13, 17l behind Delcombe (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy.
