tracked leader, went prominent 5th, ridden and led 2 out, driven and kept on flat
tracked leaders, ridden 2 out to track winner, kept on one pace flat
led, ridden approaching 3 out, headed next, weakening when hit last
held up, blundered 4th, soon lost touch
held up in mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten
held up towards rear, effort after 4 out, ridden and soon beaten
Giorgio Quercus appears to have regressed since his debut win at Hereford and this may lie between NINE STORIES and West With The Wind and preference is for the former. Howard Johnson's progressive novice is closely matched with Giorgio Quercus on a form line through Simarian. He tasted defeat at Cheltenham in October but was then a ready winner against poor opposition at Catterick. The good ground should suit him on this tight track as he doesn't look to have an abundance of stamina and he is fancied to win again perhaps before heading to Aintree. West With The Wind is unbeaten over hurdles and Tom Tate's course and distance winner showed a game battling attitude to score here last time; he is a big threat. Sacrilege was a beaten favourite last time out but on the ratings he has little to find with the main protagonists as he receives 8lb in weight today. John Quinn's half-brother to the decent Golden Feather may appreciate today's slightly quicker ground. Giorgio Quercus comes a long way north for this chance to get back on the winning trail and his trainer is certainly not an often visitor to the track. An intriguing race, with Nine Stories put forward as the one to give backers a happy ending.
Giorgio Quercus (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Soon in touch, hit 4th, weakened 3 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Walkon (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Nine Stories (IRE) 1-5fav (11-5) In touch, led 2 out, very easily, won at Catterick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Dec beating Victorias (10-5) by 14l, 5 ran.
West With The Wind 5-4fav (11-5) Prominent, hit 4th, led after 4 out, ridden next, kept on gamely run-in, won at Musselburgh 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Dec beating Don't Stop Me Now (10-12) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Recoil (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, hit 4th, headway approaching next on outer, ridden and weakened after 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Theme Catcher (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov sll hdl (5) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Sacrilege 6-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden and hit 2 out, went 2nd last, kept on, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Pemberton (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Treeko (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and weakened 3f out, 13th of 14, 23l behind Willkandoo (9-7) at Dundalk 1m hcp 0-80 pol in Oct (Flat).
Kargan (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, 8th of 10, well behind Don't Stop Me Now (10-0) at Musselburgh 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
