tracked leaders on inside, effort 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened next
held up in rear, headway 11th, left 3 lengths 2nd 3 out, lost place next, 5th and weakening when fell heavily last
mid-division, lost place 7th, soon behind, no danger after
held up, always behind
mid-division, chased leaders 11th until weakened 3 out
tracked leader, led 11th, narrow advantage when bumped and left 3 lengths clear 3 out, stayed on well from next
chased leaders to 11th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up next
always prominent on outside, every chance when went left and unseated rider when collided with winner 3 out
made most to 7th, chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, left 3rd next, stayed on to chase clear winner last, lost moderate 2nd final 100 yards
mid-division, chased leaders when mistake 4 out, stayed on to chase clear winner 2 out until last, weakend flat
with leaders on inside, led 7th to 11th, outpaced in 5th when hit 3 out, stayed on to take moderate 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with winner
mid-division on outside, lost place and behind 11th, plugged on from 3 out, never near leaders
mid-division outpaced 4 out, no impression from next
always towards rear, weakened 3 out, soon pulled up
in touch on outside, ridden after 4 out, weakened from next
mid-divisison on inside, outpaced 4 out, ridden next, kept on under pressure from last, never near leaders
QUANTITATIVEEASING is hardly the most consistent but has performed with credit on several occasions here and hopefully can get back on track. He landed a Grade 3 just over a year ago and is only 5lb higher after a couple of poor efforts. There are numerous dangers, not the least of them Pacha Du Polder, a high-class novice last season who set the pace over 3m1f at Sandown last time but weakened quickly and was passed by today's rival Bold Sir Brian. That was a Listed contest and the winner is progressing rapidly as is Bless The Wings, who showed admirable battling qualities at Newbury in November. Katenko went into every notebook with a very impressive victory at Sandown while the likes of the returning Our Mick and AP McCoy's mount Nadiya De La Vega, have to be respected in a wide-open handicap.
Poquelin (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, awkward and screwed 11th, tailed off next, pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Al Ferof (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 18 ran.
Bold Sir Brian (IRE) 11-10fav (11-7) In rear and in touch, blundered 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, soon clear, won at Sandown 3m Listed chs (1) sft in Dec beating Pacha Du Polder (11-11) by 16l, 4 ran.
Chance Du Roy (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st, close 3rd when fell 5 out, in a race won by Little Josh (10-9) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Quantitativeeasing (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) In rear, struggling 9th, never dangerous, tailed off, 8th of 14, well behind Unioniste (9-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Dec.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led narrowly last, clear flat, idled 150 yards out, joined towards finish, pulled out enough to hold on close home, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Nov beating Mahogany Blaze (10-6) by nk, 10 ran.
Katenko (FR) 5-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, challenged 11th, led 14th, went 5 lengths ahead approaching 2 out, ridden between last 2, stayed on strongly flat, eased towards finish, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) sft beating Johns Spirit (10-3) by 9l, 11 ran.
Pacha Du Polder (FR) 3-1 (11-11) Led and not fluent, headed 2 out, one pace before last, 2nd of 4, 16l behind Bold Sir Brian (11-7) at Sandown 3m Listed chs (1) sft in Dec.
Our Mick 11-1 (11-1) With leader to 4th, remained in touch, not fluent 15th, outpaced 4 out, headway next, effort and every chance on outside 2 out, ridden to chase leading pair flat, held when edged left towards finish, 3rd of 19, 5l behind Alfie Sherrin (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Nadiya De La Vega (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Unioniste (9-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Shoegazer (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway 5th, led 4 out, hard pressed when blundered last, soon headed, no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Carrickboy (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy.
Fruity O'Rooney 10-1 (10-12) Led until 4th, led again and went left 7th, headed 14th, dropped to 3rd next, went 2nd again approaching 4 out, driven after 3 out, no extra in 3rd fom next, 3rd of 11, 20l behind Katenko (10-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) sft.
Tartak (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 16th, badly outpaced 6th before 3 out, rallied last, kept on to modest 4th flat, 4th of 11, 22l behind Katenko (10-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) sft.
Quincy Des Pictons (FR) 13-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, hard driven 4 out, weakened before last, modest 4th, 4th of 10, 23l behind Cannington Brook (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Hell's Bay (FR) 50-1 (9-9) Mid-division, outpaced out, soon behind and unseated rider 11th, in a race won by Unioniste (9-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Frontier Spirit (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, clear after next, very easily (3 fences ommited), won at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec beating Mister Wiseman (10-9) by 18l, 5 ran.
Tullamore Dew (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Behind, headway under pressure after 5 out, went 3rd before 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 10, 23l behind Big Fella Thanks (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft.
