in rear, struggling 12th, tailed off
in rear, not always fluent, blundered 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders, mistake 7th, struggling from 15th, well beaten after 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders early, mid-division, mistake 6th and 10th, headway 15th, mistake 4 out, weakened before 2 out
led, blundered 10th, headed 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, headway 8th, hit 13th, led 2 out, stayed on
prominent, hit 15th, weakened before bad mistake 2 out, pulled up before last
soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
rear of mid-division, mistake 3rd, struggling 14th, tailed off
prominent, ridden and one pace 4th 2 out, weakened last
chased leaders early, mid-division, mistake and lost place 11th, headway on outside 15th, went 2nd flat, stayed on, not able to get to winner
handy, mistake 3rd and 4th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, blundered and lost place 2nd, mistake 4th, well behind before 13th, soon pulled up
BRIGADIER BOB has generally been a reformed character since put over fences and allowed to make his own running. A further 8lb rise would be a concern but there also question marks hanging over his likely market rivals. Oscar Ceremony won at Kelso in October but was beaten on a return visit last month. Crossley Tender has a similar profile having won at Plumpton before finding one too good at Wincanton while Arthur's Reuben still appears out of sorts. Itsamanslife won here back in January but is hard to catch right and Stonebrigg Legend best efforts over fences have come at Fakenham.
Crossley Tender 13-8fav (11-10) Held up, slow 9th and 14th, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, driven to challenge 2 out, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Legend Of Zorro (10-13) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Overworkdunderpaid (IRE) 6-1 (11-13) Held up in 5th on inside, closer in 4th before 6th, fell 8th, at Southwell 3m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Ballycrystal Court (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, driven and outpaced before 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from next, 5th of 7, 11 3/4l behind Vendredi Trois (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Itsamanslife (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Raced keenly, held up and behind, jumped very big 10th, some headway on inside before 4 out, soon beaten, hit next, 7th of 13, 34 1/4l behind Findusatgorcombe (10-13) at Exeter 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Brigadier Bob (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Jumped left, made all, edged left and rider dropped rein flat, stayed on, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (5) sft in Nov beating Mr Palmtree (10-4) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Thomas Shelby (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Led, mistake 1st, headed next, chased leader, hit 8th and lost place behind next, mistake 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Southwell 3m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Copperfacejack (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Led, hit 2nd, headed 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 11, dist behind Hard To Forget (11-10) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Oscar Ceremony (IRE) 5-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, driven into 2nd after 2 out, soon ridden, hit last, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Caventara (11-5) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Cap Horner (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in last trio, closer in 5th at 13th, 3rd 4 out, ridden before next, poor 4th when pulled up before last, at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Arthur's Reuben 8-1 (10-11) Chased leaders in 4th until before 6th, left 4th at 8th, went 3rd approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 18l behind Very First Time (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Stonebrigg Legend 16-1 (10-0) Held up in touch on outside, challenged 3 out, soon led, headed next, held by winner flat, kept on, 2nd of 9, 3 3/4l behind North Star Oscar (11-11) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Is Love Alive 11-1 (10-2) Pitched, sprawled and unseated rider 1st, at Huntingdon 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Grayhawk (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Held up last, closer 4 out, pushed along and no impression in 5th before next, left poor 4th before last, tailed off, 4th of 8, dist behind Kiwi Myth (10-8) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
