raced wide, chased leader, led 11th, narrowly headed 4 out, stayed challenging, every chance 3 out, ridden before 2 out, disputing 2nd, no chance with winner when blundered last, weakened flat
tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd after 12th, closed to lead 4 out, pecked 2 out, clear last, stayed on well
jumped right, held up, mistake 5th, steady headway after 4 out, chased leading pair approaching 2 out, challenging for 2nd but no chance with winner when jumped badly right last
held up in rear, in touch, pushed along approaching 4 out, soon beaten
led until headed 11th, soon weakened, tailed off
not fluent, chased leading pair, blundered 6th, ridden and weakened after 4 out
A decent contest and if Supreme Keano could improve his jumping he would be capable of winning, but on this occasion preference is for QUATTROCENTO. Peter Bowen's gelding won here over 3m in a handicap hurdle during the summer, when rated 112. He is 5lbs higher and over fences today, but he has earned that by going close over this trip at Doncaster last time. He has won on good to soft, so there should be no issues over the ground, and he looks the percentage call. Make no mistake, we would be concerned about Supreme Keano if he were able to produce his best. Trip and ground suit and we are not overly worried by his defeat last time, but more his habit of making mistakes, so we will just oppose. Diablo disappointed at Hereford, but if able to return to the form of his previous couple of novices' chases then he would certainly have claims. A P McCoy steps off Supreme Keano to ride Nicky Henderson's Zanzibar Boy, for whom conditions and trip suit, but recent efforts suggest that the handicapper has his measure. It's been a long time between drinks for Plane Painter. Both he and Herecomestanley would come into the category of surprise winners, but Quattrocento will do for us.
Diablo (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) In touch, joined leader 4th, lost place 10th, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 5, 50l behind Minella Theatre (11-1) at Hereford 2m 5f nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Quattrocento (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, challenged last, every chance flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Mill Side (11-7) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Supreme Keano (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up well in rear approaching 1st, making headway approaching 16th, 5th approaching 4 out, well beaten in 6th flat, 6th of 11, 32l behind Present M'lord (11-7) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy.
Herecomestanley 20-1 (10-10) Held up, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden and no impression, 5th of 6, 38l behind Strawberry (11-12) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Plane Painter (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) In touch when mistake and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Knighton Combe (11-12) at Ascot 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
Zanzibar Boy 6-1 (10-11) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 6th, led 13th, ridden soon after 2 out, tired and headed before last, weakened badly flat, 4th of 9, 18l behind Fire And Rain (10-6) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
