held up, not fluent 5th, headway 4 out, left chasing winner 3 out, jumped left 2 out, one pace flat
prominent until ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
jumped left, chased leaders, hit 4th, mistake and stumbled 9th, challenging when left in lead 3 out, driven out towards finish
chased leader, jumped right 3rd, led 4 out, joined by winner when fell 3 out
led to 4 out, hampered 3 out, soon eased, pulled up before 2 out, dismounted
held up in touch, outpaced 4 out, rallied 3 out, soon switched right, jumped left 2 out, stayed on flat
held up, hit 2nd, hampered 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, no impression, weakened after last
mid-division, lost place after 5th, last when mistake 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
held up, behind from 10th, tailed off
mid-division, no fluent 3rd, driven along 8th, headway when hampered 3 out, weakened after 2 out
Sitting Duck gets the vote over Englishtown and Mokum, with Lizzie Bathwick and Baron Blitzkrieg worth a mention as well. Brendan Powell has his team in fine form at present, and that augurs well for the chances of Sitting Duck who jumped like a stag when beating Baron Blitzkreig at Huntingdon 19-days ago. He may well have only beaten that rival by less than two-lengths, but it could have been further had Charlie Studd liked, and a similar performance here should be well enough for him to follow up. Englishtown was a fair second at Wincanton on Boxing Day but does not look the easiest of rides so it is a good job that Tony McCoy takes over in the saddle today. Even so, he is worth taking on along with the likes of Lizzie Bathwick and Jacarado. We were impressed with Sitting Duck at Huntingdon, and he must surely take all the beating again.
Mokum (FR) 12-1 (10-8) Mid-division, ridden after 10th, headway 3 out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec beating Mandingo Chief (11-5) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Killing Me Softly 16-1 (11-0) Led, headed after 2nd, chased leader until ran out 2 out in race won by Quirino (11-0) at Towcester 2m 3f beg chs (4) hvy, 8 ran.
Englishtown (FR) 9-2 (10-10) Held up last, ridden and headway 13th, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Alphabetical (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Toms Gone Grey (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Chased leader, ridden 9th, weakened 13th, 6th of 11, 47l behind Alphabetical (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Sitting Duck 6-1 (10-10) Made all, soon clear, challenged from 7th, in command 3 out, held on well, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft beating Baron Blitzkrieg (10-5) by 2l, 11 ran.
Lizzie Bathwick (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) In touch, not fluent 1st and 2nd, outpaced after 11th, stayed on again from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Chamoss Royale (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov chs (4) sft in Dec.
Reasonably Sure (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, blundered 8th, headway to chase leaders 5 out, ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, 33l behind Crackadee (11-5) at Newcastle 3m beg chs (4) sft.
Monger Lane 8-1 (10-4) Mid-division, lost place 4th, behind 7th, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Solid As A Rock (10-7) at Towcester 3m chs 0-90 (5) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Baron Blitzkrieg 8-1 (10-5) Held up, headway 4 out, chased winner next, stayed on well after last, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Sitting Duck (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft.
Jacarado (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Prominent, outpaced after 3 out, jumped right last, stayed on well, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Milton Des Bieffes (11-6) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy.
Guilt 33-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 11th, pecked 5 out, soon weakened, mistake 4 out, 9th of 14, well behind Nadover (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
