tracked leaders, outpaced 5 out, soon rallied, effort 2 out, soon one pace
held up mid-division, not fluent 5th, soon lost place, weakened 9th
tracked leaders, every chance when ridden to challenge 4 out, soon under pressure and weakened
held up in touch, every chance from 4 out, no extra approaching last
led, mistake 3rd, soon clear, headed approaching and mistake 4 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, led approaching 4 out, soon strongly challenged, stayed on well
held up in rear, mistake 9th, soon behind, pulled up 4 out
behind, headway 8th, soon weakened
always in rear, slow 7th, behind when pulled up 4 out
Inside Dealer has been in terrific form, beating today's rival Mud Monkey at Hereford in November and scoring over this C&D a month later. Runner-up to Shakalakaboomboom over 3m at Taunton on his latest start, Colin Tizzard's seven-year-old is a leading contender again in this. Or Bleu came back to form when runner-up to stablemate Chance Du Roy at Chepstow last month, while Qulinton found only Neptune Equester too good at Wetherby in the autumn. But the move to put REQUIN over fences could pay instant dividends as Victor Dartnall's six-year-old was a game winner over hurdles here in December and far from disgraced off a higher mark when eighth at Wincanton last month.
Or Bleu (FR) 17-2 (9-12) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, stayed on, one pace, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Chance Du Roy (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) sft in Jan.
Qulinton (FR) 7-2fav (11-1) Held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 8th, led approaching and blundered 4 out, headed approaching and jumped left 3 out, no impression after 2 out, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Neptune Equester (10-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Inside Dealer (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Took keen hold, close up in 4th, went 2nd 9th, led 11th, ridden and headed before last, one pace flat, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Shakalakaboomboom (11-1) at Taunton 2m 7f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Requin (FR) 9-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway after 5th, hit next, no impression and held from 2 out, 8th of 21, 7l behind Sparrow Hills (10-11) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Mud Monkey 5-1 (10-12) Led until not fluent 5th, led next until 7th, hampered 8th, lost place after 13th, soon weakened, went left last 2, 5th of 9, 36l behind Forget It (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (3) sft in Jan.
As De Fer (FR) 10-1 (11-5) Mistake 1st, led until 3rd, chased clear leader, closed 10th, led after 13th, in command when left well clear 2 out, won at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan beating One And All (9-11) by 27l, 6 ran.
Wheels Up (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear when fell 6th, in a race won by Flying Squad (9-11) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Down The Stretch 15-2 (11-12) Behind, headway 14th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2nd last, in a race won by Back Exit (11-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Bertie May 16-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, some headway on inside when ridden after 14th, no impression from next, 8th of 11, 39l behind Sona Sasta (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
