Weather to decide Bally plan

Nigel Twiston-Davies is weighing up the options for Ballyfitz following his fine effort in defeat in the Welsh National at Chepstow last week.

Results in the first half of the season have been mixed for the 10-year-old as he finished a creditable fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, pulled up in the Hennessy Gold Cup but then won over hurdles at Sandown.

A bad mistake cost him all chance of winning last week’s marathon contest but he stayed on well enough up the straight to finish fifth and suggest there are other prizes to be won with him this season.

“He ran a good race. He made a bad mistake down the back but he stayed on well,” said Twiston-Davies.

“The ground was very deep and while he likes it soft, it was even too testing for him.

“We’ll have a good think about where we go with him but we certainly aren’t short of options.

“We could stay over fences or go back over hurdles, we’ll just see what the weather does and then make a plan.”