held up in touch, headway to be close up 4th, blundered 8th, reminders next, ridden and jumped right 12th, weakened 14th, pulled up next
led, headed 3rd, tracked leaders, went 2nd 15th, soon pressed winner until approaching 2 out, one pace after
tracked winner 3rd until hit 14th, weakened 4 out
led 3rd, pressed from 5 out, asserted approaching 2 out, ridden clear, comfortable
in rear, behind 6th, pulled up 6 out
in touch in rear, ridden 12th, went moderate 4th at 14th
QUINZ can build on his facile Chepstow success. His mark of 130 is not overly generous because he was put up 13lbs for winning at Kempton in March, but he still looks capable of playing a major hand off this perch. Le Burf made a pleasing return at Chepstow and his adjusted mark of 131 is within reach, and along with the dangerously-well-handicapped Verasi he rates a big danger. Den Of Iniquity has top-weight and his reappearance run last month suggested that he is a big player in a race like this, despite his mark making life tough. Far More Serious is a fascinating contender on his return and he signed off with a seventh-placed finish in the 4 miler at Cheltenham; he rates the biggest threat with a fine record fresh.
Den of Iniquity 5-2fav (11-12) Held up in touch, in 4th, mistake 11th, challenged 4 out, led approaching 3 out, jumped right and hit 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on and edged left run-in, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Incentivise (9-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Far More Serious (IRE) 22-1 (11-6) Mid-division, in touch 8th, challenged 3 out, ridden and lost place after next, soon beaten, 7th of 18, 35l behind Poker De Sivola (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m am nov chs (2) gd in Mar.
Le Burf (FR) 6-1 (11-11) Led and took keen hold, jumped right 4th and 5th, mistake 9th, headed next, led 11th, weakening when blundered 3 out, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Incentivise (9-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Quinz (FR) 11-10fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, jumped slow 3rd, led 4th, clear approaching 4 out, hit next, eased run-in, won at Exeter 3m beg chs (3) gd in Oct beating Cashel Blue (10-13) by 23l, 5 ran.
Tisfreetdream (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Tracked winner, mistake 1st, ridden and weakened before 4 out, hit 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Midnight Haze (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs, 9 ran.
Verasi 25-1 (10-13) Mid-division, hit 5th, blundered 15th, soon behind, 9th of 10, well behind Fit To Drive (11-9) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
