never jump with any fluency in rear, ridden and hit 14th, tailed off next, well in rear when pulled up approach 18th (5 out)
close up, pushed along 14th, outpaced next, tailed off 18th (5 out) and soon pulled up
tracked leader, left in narrow lead 17th, made rest, joined 3 out, 2 lengths clear and in command last, kept on strongly
held up in last trio, driven along 16th, left modest 3rd next, ridden and struggling 4 out, 5th and well beaten when blundered last
led until blundered and unseated rider 17th
held up in touch, left 3rd at 17th, until 4 out, weakened soon after
held up in last trio, mistake 13th, headway into 3rd 4 out, stayed on same pace from next
chased leaders, pushed along 7th, driven along 11th, lost place before 18th (5 out), last at next, tailed off
chased leading pair, left chasing winner at 17th, every chance 3 out, ridden approaching next, no extra and held from last
He may be getting a bit long-in-the-tooth, but DEEP QUEST has relatively few miles on the clock and is taken to win this, while Triggernometry and Classic Clover are both respected from an in-form yard. Colin Tizzard trains the latter pairing, with son Joe up on Triggernometry suggesting that he is the first string. The Double Trigger gelding won here over 3m 2f in April when the ground was good, but although he does act with cut he does tend to produce his best on a sound surface. Although the stable is in fine form he is no good thing. The same came be said of course and distance winner Classic Clover, though he did score here on soft from just 1lb higher last year and with Harry Skelton's claim he may well emerge the best of the pair. Tarquinius handled cut pretty well when third at Chepstow last time, where he jumped well. He appears to have bags of stamina and this extra half mile or so may see improvement. Fakima handles any ground and stays, and although he appears out of form if there is money for him then we should be wary. Treasulier likes it here and with cut underfoot. He should be fitter for his first run after a lengthy absence and has a featherweight to carry, but Deep Quest is the one for us.
Deep Quest 12-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, raced wide, headway 6th, went 2nd 13th, led after 15th, not fluent 3 out, stayed on, ridden out, won at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec beating Toulouse-Lautrec (11-6) by 3l, 5 ran.
Triggernometry 16-1 (11-1) In touch, weakened 4 out, 6th of 13, 25l behind Gentle Ranger (11-11) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Tarquinius (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Close up, chased winner approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Fortification (10-9) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Plum Pudding (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Mistake 3rd, behind, headway approaching 5 out, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 12, 33l behind Peut Etre Sivola (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Oct.
Newbay Bob 25-1 (11-10) Prominent, led 3rd, headed after 9th, remained prominent, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 16, 18l behind Dennis The Legend (11-10) at Stratford 3m 4f nov hts chs (2) gd in May.
Fine By Me (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, hampered 11th, soon struggling, 7th of 10, well behind The Walnut Tree (9-7) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (4) gd.
Fakima (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Mid-division, no impression from 4 out, 9th of 22, 25l behind Ameretto Son (10-9) at Punchestown 3m 1f am hcp ch 0-102 in Oct.
Classic Clover 15-8fav (11-0) Chased leader early, steadied to rear after 3rd, reminders 9th, driven to go moderate 3rd 4 out, chased clear leader approaching last, kept on, no chance, 2nd of 6, 14l behind Fortification (11-6) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Treasulier (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Jumped right throughout, led until 10th, soon driven along, chased winner until blundered 15th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, 33l behind Ray Mond (9-11) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
