chased leading pair, went 2nd before 2 out, driven on long run after last, closed to lead final 100 yards, won going away
not fluent, led until 3rd, went right and blundered 4th, lost 2nd and reminders 8th, struggling in rear and no chance after, tailed off
not always fluent, chased leader, led 3rd, ridden on long run after last, headed and no extra final 150 yards
jumped left and keen, raced in close 4th, mistake 2nd, chased leader 8th until before 2 out, weakened after 2 out, tailed off
jumped poorly in rear, mistake 3rd and ridden along after next, hit 5th, blundered and pulled up after 6th
QUARTZ DE THAIX was easily the best of these over hurdles, finishing sixth in a Grade 3 handicap at Sandown on his latest start. There's enough in his pedigree to suggest that he'll jump fences and he has far more scope than South O'The Border, who was previously trained by Venetia Williams but has finished tailed off in both starts over the larger obstacles this season and was also well in arrears back over timber at Warwick last month. Swansbrook is comparatively lightly-raced and showed a bit of promise when fourth on his chase debut at Leicester. But he was always struggling to lay up with the principals at Taunton earlier this month and his future may lie in handicaps.
Quartz de Thaix (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 20, 22l behind Kilcrea Kim (10-12) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd.
South O'The Border 22-1 (10-5) Prominent, jumped big 1st, led 4th until 7th, ridden after 8th, weakened from next, tailed off, 9th of 14, well behind Mobaasher (11-7) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
Swansbrook (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, hit 5th, reminders after 7th, soon struggling, tailed off, 5th of 10, 37l behind Qozak (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f nov chs (4) gs.
The Humbel Monk (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Held up in touch towards rear, took keen hold, not fluent 7th, last after 11th, behind next, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Maraafeq (11-0) at Ludlow 3m beg chase (4) gd.
Real Dandy 200-1 (10-12) Towards rear, mistake 5th, pushed along and struggling when stumbled badly next, tailed off and pulled up soon after, in a race won by Habbie Simpson (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov, 17 ran.