led, hit 4 out, over 1 length ahead when went left last, driven edged right and carried runner up right final 150 yards, just held on, all out, (disqualified, placed 2nd)
chased winner, not fluent 10th, switched right to challenge on inside before 3 out, 1 length down when ridden approaching last, strong challenge and upsides when carried right final 150 yards, bumped close home, just failed, (awarded race)
held up in 3rd, not fluent 5th, not much room on inside and switched left before 3 out, soon outpaced by leading duo
Only three runners have been declared here but none of the trio can be ruled out. Dan Breen made all to score by 11 lengths at Bangor in December and the form of that race has been franked. David Pipe's six-year-old is open to further improvement but so is Giorgio Quercus, who fell on his chasing debut at Plumpton but made amends when odds-on at Leicester last month. On a line through the fourth there, Darby's Turn, that gives him the beating of Dan Breen but he may find PEPE SIMO a tougher nut to crack. Paul Nicholls' gelding has taken well to the larger obstacles, winning over C&D in November and running Nadiya De La Vega to a length when conceding 11lb at Kempton last month - he gets the vote.
Dan Breen (IRE) 3-1fav (11-0) Made all, took slight hold early, clear after 3 out, 16 lengths up when blundered badly last, won at Bangor 2m 1f nov chs (4) gs in Dec beating Hollo Ladies (11-0) by 11l, 9 ran.
Giorgio Quercus (FR) 4-6fav (10-12) Took keen hold, mostly pressed leader until led 7th, drew clear flat, easily, won at Leicester 2m nov chs (3) gd in Jan beating Thumbs Up (11-4) by 6l, 4 ran.
Pepe Simo (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up behind in touch, headway 4 out, went 2nd next, ridden and every chance when not fluent last, kept on flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Nadiya De La Vega (10-8) at Kempton 2m nov chs (2) gs in Jan.
