took keen hold, tracked leader, jumped right 8th, lost 2nd 12th, left 2nd 4 out, leader soon went clear, 5 lengths down 2 out, closed when jumped right last, led flat, clear towards finish
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, not fluent 10th, went 2nd 12th, trying to press leader when went badly left, blundered and unseated rider 4 out
chased leaders, not fluent 4th or 11th when rider lost iron briefly, left pressing for 2nd 4 out, soon weakened
led, clear 12th until 4 out, soon clear again, 5 lengths ahead 2 out, headed flat, no extra
CAPTAIN BUCK’S is having only his third start over the larger obstacles. He was a close third here on debut then was only beaten half-a-length at Wincanton and his turn looks to have come around today. Dadsintrouble fell on his chasing bow but then ran better than the final results suggests at Newbury and is no forlorn hope. Matorico has yet to show much over fences while Geordie Des Champs jumped poorly and finished last when favourite at Aintree in November, though was a useful hurdler and is surely better than that.
Geordie Des Champs (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Held up, not much room when mistake 1st, 3rd from 7th, jumped right and knuckled on landing 13th, hit 15th, mistake and weakened 3 out, lost 3rd post, last of 4, 30l behind Captain Chaos (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f (3) sft in Nov.
Dadsintrouble (IRE) 12-1 (12-1) Held up in rear, modest 4th before 4 out, mistake next, never threatened, 4th of 7, 32l behind Dingo Dollar (11-8) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Matorico (IRE) 50-1 (10-5) Held up in mid-division, hit 4 out, headway when stumbled on bend before 3 out, weakening when blundered 2 out, pulled up before last, at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Captain Buck's (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, led 11th, headed 5 out, led again 3 out, soon challenged, headed just after last, no extra close home, 3rd of 11, 1/4l behind Regal Flow (11-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
