mid-division, blundered 13th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 4 out
reminders after 9th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up after 14th
prominent, led briefly 5th, chased leader, jumped slowly 10th, led again 13th, headed approaching last, weakened flat
prominent, ridden and weakened after 14th, tailed off
mid-division, jumped right 7th, headway 14th, mistake 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on well
held up in rear, blundered 13th, no chance when fell 3 out
prominent, jumped slowly 2nd, ridden 13th, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up before last
held up in rear, effort 13th, weakened after next, tailed off
mid-division, reminder after 9th, headway 11th, every chance 2 out, no extra flat
led 2nd to 4th, prominent, led again 11th to 13th, every chance 4 out, weakened and eased approaching last
led to 2nd, led again 4th to next, lost place 7th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up before 11th
not jump well, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
ridden and behind from 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
led after 5th, jumped right from next, headed 13th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before last
The form of Ballyvaddy's recent Chepstow defeat reads well in the context of this race and he is taken to score from Finbar's Revenge and Creative Time. The selection is by Roselier, and therefore performs on faster ground, as evidenced by his four most recent outings. I good ground Ludlow win over fences last May bisected two hurdles successes and last time out that quarter-length defeat to Rosarian at Chepstow gives him plenty in hand on his rivals at these weights, if he can be trusted to carry his hurdles form back to the bigger obstacles and we are prepared to take that chance. Top weight Finbar's Revenge has, in theory, nothing like the speed of the selection, but he does go well over this trip and on decent ground. A defeat of Blazing Batman last time shows he is in good heart but he may just be vulnerable with this weight. The same applies to Henrietta Knight-trained Creative Time, who carries 1lb less than the topweight and also has a Stratford win last time out to his name. There is little to separate the pair of them and both have strong claims to making the frame, but we will stick with Ballyvaddy to come good over fences.
