led until 4th, with leader until weakened quickly after 3 out
in touch, ridden after 6th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, led after 3 out, stayed on well, ridden out
always towards rear, tailed off from 3 out
with leader, led 4th until after 3 out, soon ridden, 3rd and held when mistake last
held up in touch, outpaced after 6th, stayed on again after 3 out
held up towards rear, some headway after 6th
in touch, tracked leaders after 6th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders until 6th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
in touch until weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Quasimodo gets the vote in the opener with Desert Jim and Blazing Bailey rated as the main dangers. The selection hails from a yard in decent form and he won in impressive fashion at Sandown last time. He made a mistake at the last otherwise his winning margin would have been much bigger, and he seemed to benefit from the more forceful tactics that were employed. He has conditions to suit today and should take plenty of beating. Desert Jim ran with plenty of credit at Cheltenham last time and he is sure to come on for the experience of that outing. He could go well as he remains unexposed. Blazing Bailey was nothing special on the flat but he has changed stables to Alan King's yard and he is worth noting in the market on his hurdling bow. Cava Bien would have claims on the pick of his form and is another to consider, but for the winner we will return to Quasimodo.
Quasimodo (GB) 50-1 (10-12) Chased leader, led 3rd, ridden when hit last, strongly pressed flat, just held on, won at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) sft beating Ostrogoth (10-12) by a shd, 15 ran.
Benedict Bay 100-1 (10-5) Mistake and hampered 1st, driven along 4th, always behind, 12th of 15, 48l behind Quasimodo (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) sft.
Blazing Bailey 15-2 (8-13) Led, headed over 3f out, soon outpaced, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 14, 13l behind Whispering Death (8-4) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Oct (Flat).
Brendan's Surprise 100-1 (10-5) In touch, mistake 3rd, weakened under pressure before 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Turko (11-4) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (C) gd in Nov.
Cava Bien 100-1 (11-0) Always in the rear, 9th of 15, 46l behind Blue Shark (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
Cave of The Giant (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Hit 1st, behind, driven and outpaced 5th, stayed on flat, 3rd of 8, 26l behind Spidam (11-4) at Sandown 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) hvy in Dec.
Cold Mountain (IRE) 12-1 (8-10) Led after 2f, strongly pressed and headed from under 2f out, soon no impression, 7th of 12, 6l behind Supercat (8-7) at Clonmel 1m 2f app clm gf in Aug (Flat).
Desert Jim (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Mid-division, hit 1st, mistake 3rd, not fluent and headway 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 9, 23l behind Afsoun (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (B) gs in Dec.
Form And Beauty (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) fell at the 1st in race won by Detroit City (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gs, 24 ran.
Llamadas 20-1 (8-11) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on to lead well inside final furlong, all out, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec beating Island Rapture (9-0) by a hd, 12 ran (Flat).
Next Lord (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Not fluent, mid-division, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, weakening when jumped left 2 out, 7th of 14, 34l behind Caribou (10-12) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Opera Villevert (FR) Goldneyev gelding out of Jubilation.
Shardakhan (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, hampered 3rd, well behind when hit 3 out, 10th of 15, 41l behind Quasimodo (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) sft.
The Chequered Lady 12-1 (8-2) With leader, 4f out, weakened rapidly over 3f out, soon tailed off, last of 6, well behind Without A Trace (8-1) at Windsor 1m 4f stk 0-70 (5) gf in Jul (Flat).
