mid-division, pushed along 2 out, joined leader last, one paced run in
close up, led 5 out, ridden 3 out, faced strong challenge last, rallied run in, gamely
led, headed 5 out, asked for effort 3 out, no extra from 2 out
in rear, pushed along before 3 out, mistake 3 out, one paced thereafter
towards rear, ridden 4 out, detached 3 out, weakened soon after
A blunder at the last when in the lead may have cost BETTY BALOO the race at Hexham on her hurdling debut. The dual bumper winner steps up in trip and for this and should go close. Fiadh has every chance despite finding the odds-on favourite too good when second at Ayr while Tigerpomp was challenging for the lead when falling at the last at Sedgefield on her hurdling bow and is not out of this either. Letthetruthbeknown is a bumper winner hurdling for the first time and looks best of the rest.
Betty Baloo 6-4fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway when asked for effort before last, blundered last, no extra run in, 4th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Aazza (10-12) at Hexham 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Fiadh (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Chased leader until slow 4th, went 2nd after 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression on winner last, kept on, 2nd of 6, 7l behind The Player Queen (11-0) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Fille D'avignon (IRE) 125-1 (10-12) Just worse than mid-division, weakened before 3 out and soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out, at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Tigerpomp 20-1 (11-0) Held up last, good headway chasing leaders out wide 3 out, led on long run before next, ridden between last 2, narrowly headed when fell heavily last, at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in May.
Howzat Hiris (FR) 125-1 (10-3) Towards rear, ridden well before 3 out, weakened 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 8, 36l behind Tamar Bridge (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f (3) gs in Oct.
Letthetruthbeknown (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden 4f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 10, 17 1/4l behind Henri The Second (10-13) at Chepstow 2m (5) gd in Oct.
