tracked leaders on inside, bad blunder 3rd, going ok when fell 4 out
tracked leader, led 5th, not fluent 4 out, ridden before 2 out, headed 2 out, soon outpaced and no chance with winner
tracked leaders, went 2nd between horses 13th, pushed along and lost 2nd turning in, weakened soon after, mistake 3 out
waited with in 5th but never far away, not fluent 4th, headway into 3rd 4 out, 2nd travelling well turning in, led 2 out, soon quickened clear, winged the last, easily
led, reached for 2nd, bad blunder 5th, pushed along and lost 2nd 13th, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
McFabulous lost his action on his fencing bow but made no mistake next time at Exeter and then trounced smart staying hurdler Thyme Hill and Mortlach, also previous winners over the larger obstacles, at Newbury. However, he’ll likely be a short price in this and stable companion GELINO BELLO is certainly no mug even though he’s only beaten small fields so far in chases. Bryony Frost’s mount was a Grade 1 winner over timber last season and has bags of scope. The mare Galia Des Liteaux is another six-year-old with a bright future judged on her effortless victory in a Listed chase at Bangor last month.
Gelino Bello (FR) 4-9fav (11-9) Made all, jumped right throughout, joined 10th, led again 11th, shaken up and 5 lengths ahead 3 out, kept on well, easily, won at Exeter 3m (2) gs in Dec beating City Chief (11-4) by 29l, 2 ran.
McFabulous (IRE) 2-1 (11-5) Jumped well, made all and went clear after 3rd, given breather 7th, joined 4 out, came easily clear again before 2 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gd in Nov beating Thyme Hill (11-8) by 6 1/2l, 3 ran.
Mortlach 9-1 (11-5) Raced keenly, tracked winner, reached for 2nd, lost 2nd before 4th, outpaced at 14th, no chance after but stayed on run-in, last of 3, 8 1/2l behind McFabulous (11-5) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gd in Nov.
Thyme Hill 4-7fav (11-8) Raced keenly in 3rd, went 2nd before 4th, jumped big next, closer at 7th, challenged on inside before 14th, pushed along and every chance next, ridden and no impression before 2 out, slowed into last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 3, 6 1/2l behind McFabulous (11-5) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gd in Nov.
Galia Des Liteaux (FR) 15-8 (11-2) Raced wide close up, led 3 out, ridden and ran on, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f lst fll (1) hvy in Nov beating Miah Grace (11-2) by 9l, 8 ran.
