not jumped well in rear, struggling from 9th, soon well behind
chased clear leader, closed up 8th, lost 2nd 3 out, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 3 out, led well before 2 out, ridden and headed last, not pace of winner flat
raced freely, led and soon clear, reduced lead from 8th, headed well before 2 out, weakened 2 out
patiently ridden in 5th, closed up from 8th, went 2nd on bit 2 out, led last, not extended
behind, not fluent 6th, ridden and struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
chased leaders in 3rd, hit 8th, mistake and weakened 10th, mistake next, soon lost touch
Tony McCoy seemed to get caught napping by Billyvoddan on Reveillez over a similar trip at Leicester last time but there should be no excuses today and James Fanshawe's gelding gets the vote ahead of Pedros Brief and Pardishar. The last mentioned has run to a fair level of form in his last two starts and holds solid place claims. Its Wallace Jnr makes his chasing debut and would need to improve on his hurdling efforts to get involved here, while Big Quick needs others to disappoint if he is to take a hand on his first start over the larger obstacles. The Richard Phillips-trained Pedros Brief is difficult to evaluate after just four starts under rules but showed decent form in bumpers and in novice hurdles from limited opportunities and has to be respected but Reveillez was different class to these over hurdles, has not done much wrong over fences and should prove to be too classy for his rivals today.
Big Quick (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Towards rear, mistake 1st, reminder 6th, ridden 7th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 8, 35l behind Yourman (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf in Sept.
Its Wallace Jnr 16-1 (10-2) Held up in mid-division, stayed on well to go 3rd approaching last, no extra flat, 4th of 12, 12l behind Pretty Star (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (B) gd in Dec.
Pardishar (IRE) 17-2 (11-4) Held up, ridden 9th, weakened next, 3rd of 8, 32l behind Royal Hector (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Jan.
Pedros Brief (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Keen, chased leaders, led 2nd, mistake 5th, headed next, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Be Be King (11-10) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
Reveillez 4-5fav (11-2) Held up, headway 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, ridden flat, ran on, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Billyvoddan (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Jan.
Zaffre d'Or (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Not always fluent, chased leading pair from 3 out, no impression and not fluent 2 out, 3rd of 6, 21l behind Baikaline (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f mdn chs (F) gd in Mar.
Sweet Minuet 50-1 (10-7) Held up, ridden and no chance from 4 out, 5th of 9, 23l behind Adecco (11-5) at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Jan.
