held up towards rear, headway over 7f out, chased winner over 2f out until over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
took keen hold, soon tracking leaders, ridden and every chance 3f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division on outside, headway 8f out, ridden 6f out, weakened 5f out
held up towards rear, lost touch over 8f out, tailed off
prominent, ridden 8f out, lost place over 3f out, hung left 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
made virtually all, ridden along 2f out, just held on
prominent, ridden and every chance over 3f out, weakened entering final furlong
held up in rear, headway over 7f out, ridden over 3f out, chased winner over 1f out until inside final furlong, stayed on same pace
in touch in mid-division, lost place when switched to outside over 6f out, headway over 2f out, stayed on to chase winner inside final furlong, gaining close home, just held
in touch, ridden and lost place 9f out, soon struggling
Cloudy Spirit had Noble Scholar behind when winning here six days ago. Eased down in the closing stages on that occasion, she looks sure to make another bold bid but may find BALLYBRIGGAN too good. John Quinn's bumper winner is shaping up into a decent hurdler and his victory over an extended 2m at Aintree in October suggests he will not be found wanting for pace back on the Flat. Graham Lee rides The Hollinwell rather than stablemate Charingworth, but the latter may prove better suited to today's conditions.
Ballybriggan (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, steady on outside before 3 out, not much room before last, stayed on under pressure flat, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 19, 3l behind Devil To Pay (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Barron Watlass (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear and keen, ridden before 2 out, never dangerous, 9th of 11, 14l behind Pyracantha (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Charingworth (IRE) 28-1 (10-5) Held up behind, effort to chase leaders 3 out, ridden next, kept on flat, not reached leaders, 4th of 16, 12l behind Nearby (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Oct.
Noble Scholar (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 4f out, kept on 2f out, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Cloudy Spirit (10-7) at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std.
Preuty Boy (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, hard ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, soon under pressure, gradually weakened, 8th of 16, 24l behind Gold Reef (10-13) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gs in Nov.
The Hollinwell 16-1 (11-5) In rear and not fluent, soon struggling, detached from 7th, tailed off when pulled up, in a race won by Mount Oscar (10-11) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov, 15 ran.
Wardington Lad 28-1 (11-2) Chased leader until 6th, ridden 7th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Henry Hook (11-5) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov, 17 ran.
Cloudy Spirit 4-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders on outer over 7f out, led over 4f out, clear well over 1f out, eased inside final furlong, easily, won at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std beating River Dragon (11-0) by 3l, 8 ran.
Natural Spring 5-1 (10-10) Not fluent, tracked leaders, ridden 7th, outpaced 3 out, switched right then left between last 2, one pace, no impression, 5th of 8, 12l behind Risaala (10-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f mares NH nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Ring For Time 20-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway on inside after 5th, hampered after 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 14, 33l behind Humbel Ben (10-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jun.
