Neil Mullholland has chances with the lightly-weighted pair Hobb's Dream and You Can Of Course, both winners at this trip at Plumpton and generally consistent if one-paced. The latter was outstayed by today's rival Portrait Royale at Folkestone last time and the winner may just have the edge again. Lady De La Vega made a fair debut over fences at Taunton and can be expected to improve but Quartz Du Montceau appears to need very testing ground. Autumn Red ran very well at Worcester in October and was backed accordingly at Warwick next time but never got into the action and pulled up. ABBEY DORE won three minor races before just being held by Marias Rock at Plumpton. He jumps well and stays the trip so may just have enough left in the tank to defy another 3lb rise in the weights.
Portrait Royale (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Tended to jump right, pressed leader, led 5th, made rest, driven before 2 out, pressed between last 2, kept on gamely to assert and went right last, driven out, won at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp 0-90 (5) sft in Nov beating You Can Of Course (10-10) by 4l, 4 ran.
Ethiopia 12-1 (9-10) In touch, led after 2nd, headed 5th, chased leaders, lost place after 9th, soon struggling, weakened 4 out, 5th of 12, well behind C'monthehammers (11-10) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.
Lady De La Vega (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Prominent, mistakes, chased winner from 12th until after 3 out, 3rd and beaten last, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Justabout (11-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Quartz Du Montceau (FR) 12-1 (10-7) Mid-division, pushed along 12th, soon outpaced, stayed on before 2 out, never on terms, 7th of 12, 27l behind Rey Nacarado (11-6) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Autumn Red (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Soon driven and struggling in rear, ridden along throughout, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Chico Time (10-7) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Nov, 7 ran.
Abbey Dore (IRE) 5-2fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 11th, headway to chase leaders 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on under pressure, never reached winner, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Marias Rock (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gs.
Jack The Soldier (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Chased leading pair, dropped rear 6th, soon struggling, plugged on from 2 out, never dangerous, 5th of 6, 17l behind Jack's Lad (11-1) at Folkestone 2m nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs.
Push The Port (IRE) 2-1fav (11-8) Held up in rear, ridden and struggling 12th, no chance after, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Dizzy Future (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Apr '09.
Fourpointone 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up soon after 3 out, in a race won by Chico Time (11-5) at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov, 6 ran.
Hobb's Dream (IRE) 13-8fav (10-4) Held up in touch, not fluent 1st, chased leaders approaching 6th, led 3 out, ridden approaching and headed last, no extra, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Queenstown Lad (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov.
You Can of Course (IRE) 7-4fav (10-10) Tracked leading pair, headway 11th, chased winner 4 out, tried to challenge between last 2, went right and no impression last, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Portrait Royale (11-12) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp 0-90 (5) sft in Nov.
