tracked leader to 6th, led before 9th, headed before 5 out, plugged on from 4 out, no impression, lost 2nd place run-in
led, not fluent 3rd, headed before 9th, ridden and in rear before 10th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, headway before 10th, ridden before 4 out, soon went remote 3rd, plugged on to take 2nd run-in, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, went 2nd at the 6th, led before 5 out, not fluent 4 out, clear before last
in rear, headway 9th to chase leaders, mistake next, ridden before 4 out, plugged on
Boris The Blade scored over C&D last month but disappointed when pulled-up back over hurdles at Ayr during the week. He has claims in this as does recent Towcester winner Armedanddangerous. The latter's defeat of Photogenique looks stronger form than Gorey Lane's victory at Market Rasen last time but Royal Mackintosh is a bigger threat than both on his latest third at Carlisle. QUACITY posted a good effort when third in a higher grade chase than this at Kelso last time and he gets the vote as a similar effort should see him home in this lesser company.
Quacity (FR) 11-1 (9-7) Held up in last pair, not fluent 9th, stayed on well from last, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Mortimers Cross (10-10) at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.
Boris The Blade 4-1 (10-12) Pressed leader, ridden after 7th, weakened after 9th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Forestside (11-3) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy, 10 ran.
Royal Mackintosh 9-4fav (10-10) Led to 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 5, 19l behind Cool Operator (11-5) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec.
Armedanddangerous (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Led into start, led before 2nd, tended to stutter into the fences, clear 3rd until 8th, driven after 9th, hung left before next, edged right approaching last, went left flat, stayed on, won at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Dec beating Photogenique (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Gorey Lane (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) In touch in rear, headway 10th, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed narrowly 2 out, rallied to lead again flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec beating Glen Countess (11-10) by 1l, 5 ran.
