not fluent 3rd, always towards rear
tracked leader, not fluent 5th, ridden after 3 out, led before not fluent last, stayed on, clear towards finish
tracked leaders, not always fluent, ridden and weakened before 2 out, mistake last
mid-division, some headway on outside after 6th, weakened before 2 out
led, ridden before 2 out, headed approaching last, edged left when held flat, no extra
mid-division, ridden before 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, 3rd and weakening when hit 2 out
towards rear, some headway after 3 out, no impression, soon weakened
always towards rear, well beaten 3 out
Take Em Out was still prominent when falling last time at Catterick having finished a close-up fourth at Taunton before that but BALLYMOY (NAP) has had a wind operation since failing to cope with decent opposition at Wetherby in November and is worth another chance. Oliver Greenall, who trained last year’s winner, runs two but Fort Jefferson was beaten a long way when second here two weeks ago and Alderson is going jumping for the first time. So is Brigadier Bob and he is not really bred for the job, though will have had plenty of schooling.
Alderson 25-1 (11-5) Held up, closed 5f out, soon went 3rd, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 4, 7 3/4l behind Before Midnight (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f (5) hvy in Jan.
Ballymoy (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Led until 1st, stayed handy, not fluent 3rd, led after 6th, headed 2 out, hung left after last, no extra, 5th of 16, 20 1/4l behind Kalashnikov (11-0) at Wetherby 2m (3) sft in Nov.
Brigadier Bob (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Prominent, driven over 2f out, soon no chance with winner, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Thebannerkingrebel (11-5) at Warwick 2m (5) sft in Jan.
Fort Jefferson 12-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, modest 5th 3 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 32l behind Whiskey In The Jar (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (5) hvy in Jan.
Take Em Out (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Led, driven and hard pressed when fell 2 out, at Catterick 2m 3f (4) sft in Jan.
Top Decision (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, weakened, last of 12, 29 1/2l behind Rebound (11-4) at Ludlow 1m 6f (4) sft in Jan.
Under The Woods 33-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and no impression in 4th 3 out, plugged on, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 10, 37l behind Whiskey In The Jar (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (5) hvy in Jan.
Lady Vitesse 100-1 (11-0) Towards rear, mistake 3 out, plugged on from next, left modest 5th last, never on terms, 5th of 15, 30 1/4l behind Melangerie (11-6) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Jan.
D'waterside 4-1 (9-1) Prominent, bumped and led after about 1f, headed over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 6th of 13, 5 1/2l behind Rock Icon (9-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Pacofilha 50-1 (10-0) Mid-division, not fluent 6th, well held 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 8, dist behind Rosmuc Relay (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f (4) hvy in Jan.
