in touch, weakened after 12th
in rear, mistake 2nd, reminders 9th, lost touch 11th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
held up, pulled hard, headway approaching 6th, weakened after 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
led, headed 2nd, chased leader, led again before 6th, drew clear from 2 out
held up, not fluent 4th, headway approaching 10th, weakened before 3 out
jumped slowly throughout, held up, headway approaching10th, weakened 3 out
with leader, led 2nd, headed approaching 6th, chased winner after, beaten 2 out
This appears to be between Whitewater Dash and OSCAR JACK with the latter taken to prevail. Ballyboley may be able to pick up some more prize money by filling third spot. Oscar Jack is officially 4lbs well in despite carrying a 7lb penalty and he may rank a good deal higher in the ratings following this contest. He hasn't stood much racing in the last couple of years but ran out an impressive six length winner on his second chase start for his current connections and should have more in the locker. The majority of this field are a similar bunch to those behind at Taunton with one obvious exception. Whitewater Dash clearly relished the switch to chasing as he wasn't hard pressed to justify market support at Bangor. He's been raised by 8lbs but is completely unexposed and his trainer has a fair record at this track in recent seasons. Ballyboley is always going to be vulnerable but continues to perform creditably and can collect a little more prize money for his connections with the claims of the remainder less than convincing. Rudivale is the one possible exception as he faced a very tough task on his sole run over fences to date and ran a fair race in the circumstances. This is more realistic and it would be no surprise were he to attract support but we'll stick with Oscar Jack.
Major Euro (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Chased leaders to 7th, behind from 9th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Classic Role (11-12) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Hero Again (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Behind from 3rd, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Tender Falcon (11-3) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 16 ran.
Rudivale (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up last, going well 14th, ridden after, weakened 4 out, 4th of 7, well behind Kornati Kid (11-0) at Exeter 3m beg chs (3) sft in Dec.
Ballyboley (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Led until 2nd, tracked winner after, not fluent 7th, lost 2nd after 11th, not fluent 13th, left in 2nd 4 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 6, 29l behind Carruthers (11-0) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gs.
Whitewater Dash 4-1 (11-3) Held up, headway approaching 11th, led approaching last, stayed on well, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec beating Lost In Normandy (10-1) by 5l, 7 ran.
Oscar Jack (FR) 7-2 (11-1) In touch, headway from 10th, challenged 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out flat, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs beating Baseball Ted (11-7) by 6l, 13 ran.
Nelson (FR) 7-1 (10-9) Prominent, mistakes, chased leader 16th, blundered, hampered and left in lead 17th, ridden after 3 out, headed 2 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 5, 13l behind Fine By Me (10-6) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Mar.
