held up towards rear, closed 4th, mistake 7th, led 3 out, clear last, easily
prominent until 2nd, chased leaders, outpaced 13th, no impression after, kept from 3 out to press for 3rd after last
soon handy, every chance 4 out, switched left before 2 out, no impression on winner last
led until 13th, not fluent 5 out, weakened before next, soon pulled up
tracked leader after 2nd, not fluent 6th, led 13th, headed 3 out, kept on to press for 3rd from last
chased leaders, lost place, eased and pulled up before 5 out
held up in rear, not always fluent, headway after 5 out, no impression next
prominent until 2nd, soon towards rear, slow 12th, well behind 13th, pulled up after
held up, not fluent 2nd, slow 10th, headway from 11th, close 3rd 2 out, no impression on winner or 2nd from last
Dropped a pound since a pipe-opener at Warwick, last year’s winner Horatio Hornblower goes on the short-list again. Mister Malarky remains unexposed and was a fair third over track and trip after winning at Plumpton. Powerful Symbol could also figure with a clear round and a similar comment applies to Another Frontier but Chic Name and Tanit River may need this. Carlos Du Fruitier kept on for pressure when less than a length behind last Saturday’s Kempton winner Glen Rocco on Boxing Day but QUARENTA (NAP) makes more appeal. Though raised 6lb for beating Muckle Roe at Warwick, the first two pulled well clear and Jonjo O’Neil’s gelding looks like making a better chaser than hurdler.
Mister Malarky 5-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders approaching next, went 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Chosen Path (11-7) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Chic Name (FR) 66-1 (11-0) In touch in mid-division, mistake 2nd, weakened before 4 out, 13th of 18, 17 1/2l behind Garo De Juilley (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Carlos Du Fruitier (FR) 16-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, went second 11th, ridden after 4 out, lost second towards finish, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Glen Forsa (10-10) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Tanit River (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Held up, always towards rear, 8th of 10, 25 1/4l behind Laurium (11-11) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Lord Bryan (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) In rear, headway 4th, led 7th, lost place 11th, well beaten before 4 out, 9th of 10, dist behind Ballyhill (11-11) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Powerful Symbol (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Disputed lead, narrow advantage when fell 4 out, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Quarenta (FR) 5-2 (11-1) Held up in touch, hampered 3 out, not clear run on last bend, bumped 2 out, switched right and challenging when out-jumped last, stayed on flat, led close home, won at Warwick 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec beating Muckle Roe (11-1) by nk, 6 ran.
Another Frontier (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, blundered badly 10th, not recover and pulled up before next, at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Horatio Hornblower (IRE) 12-1 (11-13) Jumped slowly 1st, soon mid-division, outpaced 3 out, plugged on from next, never a threat, 5th of 12, 16 1/2l behind Commodore (11-1) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
