led, narrowly headed 4 out, rallied and ridden to regain lead and hit 2 out, clear before last, driven and stayed on well
in touch to 5th until struggling when hit 8th and next, tailed off
headway to chase leading trio 7th until struggling after 3 out, 6th and well beaten when blundered 2 out
held up in rear, went distant 4th after 3 out, tailed off
chased leader, narrow lead 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, beaten before last, lost 2nd final strides
chased leading pair, driven and one pace when pecked 3 out, driven and kept on run in, took 2nd last strides but no chance with winner
chased leaders in 4th, until reminders 6th, dropped to last at 8th, eased after 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
This is a contest that seemingly lacks any real strength in depth and now that Carl Llewellyn is back among the winners it is hard to get away from QUARTANO, who showed decent form over hurdles and is taken to make a winning chase debut, getting the verdict ahead of Padalko and Fix The Rib. Gary Moore's gelding was capable over timber but not as good as the selection so he looks best watched but may do better now tackling the larger obstacles. Kim Bailey's bumper winner Midnight Haze has not progressed as much as may have been anticipated over hurdles and looks best left out of calculations, while Narlen needs to improve significantly on hurdles form to trouble the judge. Emma Lavelle's ex-French Padalko has failed to complete in two starts in this country but has shown enough to suggest that he could be competitive here. Quartano was easily the pick of these over hurdles though and a chance is taken that his chasing is good enough to make a winning start over the larger obstacles.
Fix The Rib (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Held up, headway 6th, ridden and weakened 2 out, 10th of 13, 26l behind King Gabriel (10-5) at Kempton 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Frenchie Frenchie (IRE) 80-1 (11-0) Took keen hold in rear, not fluent 4th, struggling 3 out, well behind and no chance when pulled up 3 out in race won by Chariot Charger (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Gypsy Bob (IRE) 200-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, tailed off, 15th of 16, well behind Midnight Sail (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f nh mdn hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Narlen (CZE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway to dispute poor 3rd before last, no chance, 4th of 5, 27l behind Doctored (10-9) at Folkestone 2m 1f amt hcp hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Padalko (FR) 33-1 (10-13) Chasing leading pair when blundered and unseated rider at the 8th in race won by Psychomodo (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f beg chs (3) gd in Nov, 10 ran.
Quartano (GER) 7-4fav (11-0) Chased clear leader, hit 3rd, ridden to lead approaching 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 15, 12l behind The Jazz Musician (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nh mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Saddlers Blaze (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, weakened 4 out, 8th of 10, well behind Brinkmanship (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chs (4) gf in Jul.
Midnight Haze 20-1 (10-12) Whipped round start, led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 14, 17l behind Clova Island (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
