chased leader, led 4th, narrowly headed approaching 10th, regained lead 10th, ridden and headed 3 out, still every chance 2 out, no extra and well held before last
led to 4th, stayed chasing leaders, led before 9th to 10th, ridden 11th, struggling in rear 13th, tailed off
hit 1st, chased leaders, ridden 10th, weakening when fell next
chased leaders, led 3 out, in command last, stayed on well run-in
not jump well in rear, mistake 5th and 6th adn 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
mistakes, always behind, blundered 3rd, hit 5th, blundered 7th, struggling when blundered14th, tailed off
held up, headway to chase leaders 12th, weakened soon after 4 out, no chance with front pair soon after
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, blundered 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
mid-division when fell 12th
hit 1st, held up, headway 7th, chase leaders 13th, blundered next, weakened 4 out, tailed off
Fistral Beach deserves to be favourite for this contest but there may be some mileage in taking him on with QUINZ whilst War Footing and Parpaillot are amongst others to consider. Fistral Beach extended his sequence of seconds to four, bringing his career tally to six in eight races, when finding Hey Big Spender too strong in a similar race at the track. The winner franked the form next time and this marginally longer trip should suit but he has another 5lbs to shoulder. Quinz was well held back in fifth that day but had been made joint-favourite for his chase bow so it's reasonable to expect better from him as he's the type of big horse that may just have needed the run. His jumping wasn't all that it might have been but a better round of fencing could see him close the gap on the Nicholls runner. Parpaillot has yet to win in eleven starts over fences but he may be feasibly treated on a line through Palypso De Creek. That run was some time ago now and he only made the track once in 2008 but he showed more last time and may be able to build on that. War Footing is still a maiden and has to prove himself over this trip but there's a chance that he might improve for it and there were positives to be taken from his chase bow. The Apprentice and Far More Serious are others that have to conclusively prove that this test is down their street whilst Bobby Bullock, Another Display, Dont Tell The Wife and Melba Toast all have questions to answer. It's interesting to see the last named start off here over fences as he looks very well handicapped on his hurdle form of 2007. A market move for the Alner runner could be worth noting but we'll stick with Quinz for the time being.
Fistral Beach (IRE) 7-2fav (11-2) Chased leaders, pecked 3rd, led 5th, mistake 6th, narrowly headed 7th (water), regained lead 11th, blundered and headed 2 out, kept on as winner idle flat, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Another Display (IRE) 9-4 (11-2) Led until unseated rider 5th, in a race won by Our Hero (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov, 7 ran.
Quinz (FR) 7-2fav (11-1) In touch, mistake 13th, driven approaching 4 out, stayed on to dispute 3rd between last 2, no extra from last, 5th of 14, 13l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Far More Serious (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Led 1st, blundered, headed 5th, remained handy, challenged from 12th, ridden to narrow lead last, headed, not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 15, 2 1/4l behind Nikos Extra (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Parpaillot (FR) (10-1) 3rd of 18, 1l behind Petit Laugere (10-5) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 5f chs in Nov.
The Apprentice (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) In touch, close up when hit 8th, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression, lost 2nd and hit last, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Herons Well (10-6) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
War Footing 10-3 (11-8) Held up, mistake 6th, headway 8th, hit 4 out, outpaced after next, rallied 2 out, challenged last, soon hung right, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Bennynthejets (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Dont Tell The Wife (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Mid-division on outside, lost place 7th, hit 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 42l behind Shillingstone (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Melba Toast 2-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, ridden to dispute after 2 out, definite advantage approaching last, drew clear flat, won at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan '07 beating Shardakhan (11-13) by 14l, 8 ran.
Bobby Bullock (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, blundered 8th and next, some headway 13th, weakened next, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Fine Parchment (11-2) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
