jumped right, led 2nd, headed 10th, chased winner after, tried to rally as winner tired towards finish but always held
never going well in rear, mistake 2nd, ridden and struggling 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
not fluent, led to 2nd, chased leaders, jumped slow 7th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off next
held up, headway to chase leading pair from 10th, ridden one pace and no impression from 3 ut
in touch, chased leading pair 6th, went 2nd 8th, led before 10th, 3 lengths ahead and driven before last, tired towards finish but always holding on
held up rear of main group, driven after 11th, tailed off 4 out
chased leader 2nd to 8th, stayed chasing leading pair, ridden 9th, weakened next
chased leaders in 4th until blundered and weakened 10th, tailed off when refused 3 out
Brigadier du Bois can gain reward for consistency by having the measure of Sitting Duck and Miss Wizadora. Brigadier du Bois is still a maiden after 22 starts, but has been placed on a number of occasions, both over hurdles and fences, and now reverts to the bigger obstacles after finishing second over timber last time. This drop back in trip will be in his favour, and in receipt of weight from Sitting Duck, can come good at last in a race that does not look strong on paper. Sitting Duck tried to make the running at Ludlow last time but was headed four out and did not have the required turn of foot to come back at Moscow Gold. He is there to be picked off again if adopting similar tactics. Miss Wizadora has not had a great deal of racing over the past two years and generally goes well fresh, so may go well despite not having been seen since last May. She can make the frame at least, but it is about time that Brigadier du Bois lost his maiden tag, and he will seldom have a better chance than this.
Sitting Duck 9-1 (10-4) Led, headed before 4 out, chased winner and not fluent 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Moscow Gold (9-13) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) gd in Dec.
Huw The News 40-1 (10-12) Always in rear, weakened 8th, blundered 4 out, 7th of 9, well behind Advance East (10-2) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Miss Wizadora 5-1 (11-5) Mid-division, reminders 4th, headway 9th, ridden and led 12th, headed next, weakened over 2 out, 6th of 13, 24l behind Make It Easy (9-7) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-90 (F) gd in May.
Penalty Clause (IRE) 40-1 (9-9) Jumped slowly, always towards rear, 7th of 12, well behind Florida Dream (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gd in Dec.
Brigadier du Bois (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 10th, every chance when mistake 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 16, 12l behind Merry Storm (10-9) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-88 (5) sft.
Goldseam (GER) 300-1 (11-2) Held up, reminders 5th, behind from 8th, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Justified (11-12) at Newbury 2m 1f nov chs (3) gs.
Ah Yeah (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) Led, headed 7th, weakened 13th, soon tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Thistlecraft (11-5) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (3) gd.
Renaloo (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, lost touch 12th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by dhtrs Taksina (9-4) & Eggmount (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
