in touch, lost place halfway, rallied 12th, weakened after 5 out
held up in rear but in touch, jumped left 5th and 6th, took closer order halfway, effort in 3rd 3 out, no extra after next
prominent, outpaced 11th, soon in rear, weakened 5 out
led, strongly challenged from 3 out, headed approaching last, rallied and every chance closing stages, stayed on gamely but never reached winner
chased leaders, 2nd halfway, every chance 2 out, led before last, hard driven when challenged closing stages, all out
chased leaders, driven 4 out, no impression from next
Virginia Chick has already won twice around here and Evan Williams sent out last year’s winner but the top weight may be in the handicapper’s grip having emptied quickly last time. It took Hugo 'n Taz 15 attempts to win a chase and he’s gone up 8lb since Market Rasen, though the Pipe stable remains in fine form. FORTESCUE is 2-3 over fences and was second in the other. He can’t be ignored with the promise of more to come and is preferred to the mare Quick Wave, who is quirky and tried to refuse at one fence at Leicester though won easily in the end. Trio For Rio slips further down the weights but Samburu Shujaa has been a bit disappointing over the larger obstacles so far.
Virginia Chick (FR) 9-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 6 out, chased leaders next, soon under pressure, no extra after 2 out, 4th of 8, 28 3/4l behind Springfield Fox (11-0) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Samburu Shujaa (FR) 3-1fav (12-0) Jumped left, led until after 2nd, chased leader until next, chased leaders, 2nd again 5th until 7th, chased leaders, went left and sprawled on landing 10th, went left again next, lost place and never able to get on terms after, 5th of 8, 30 3/4l behind Django Django (11-12) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Trio For Rio (IRE) 11-2 (10-6) Chased clear leading pair until 4th, not fluent and reminder 6th, outpaced 8th, plugged on, 4th of 6, 14 1/2l behind Sussex Ranger (10-6) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Quick Wave (FR) 13-8 (11-6) Led, not fluent 2nd, tried to refuse and headed 5th (open ditch), lost 5 lengths but closed up quickly by next, led 9th, headed last bend, led again normal 4 out, clear before omitted last, stayed on well, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Everlanes (10-13) by 8l, 3 ran.
Fortescue 3-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, driven into 2nd after 4 out, upsides next, led narrowly last, ridden out flat, held on near finish, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Big Nasty (11-12) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Hugo 'n Taz 5-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, headway 5 out, chased leaders after next, led before last, stayed on well, won at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Cyclop (10-6) by 4l, 9 ran.
