held up in rear, mistake 7th, headway next, challenged bypassing omitted 3 out, led 2 out, clear last, ran on well
jumped left, last after 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
held up, headway 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, left moderate 3rd last
led, jumped big and slowly until headed 4th, better after, chased leader, led bypassing omitted 3 out, hit and headed 2 out, no chance with winner when left clear 2nd last
jumped left, tracked leader, led 4th until bypassing omitted 3 out, sprawled on landing 2 out, 4th and beaten when mistake and unseated rider last
tracked leaders, hit 9th, every chance bypassing omitted 3 out, disputing, beaten 2nd when blundered and unseated rider last
A beginners' chase where the advice is to tread with care and the suggestion is VODKA BROOK to get the better of Quartz De Thaix. The latter is stepped up in trip after making the frame in three successive chases when the ground has been either soft or heavy. Fluent jumping has not been his strong point, so perhaps the slower pace might help, though whether he will stay if they go a true gallop has to be placed in some doubt. King Caine likes it here, where he has won over hurdles on heavy ground, but two chase runs so far have left connections with plenty to work on, and the ground may not be as testing as he likes. King's Forest has been given a break since a poor round of jumping in the autumn. He handles good to soft well enough and also has a hurdling win to his name at this track, so if Emma Lavelle has ironed out his fencing then he could get heavily involved. Son Of Flicka was useful over hurdles but has yet to convince in two chase outings and needs to improve, and we prefer the claims of Vodka Brook. Robert and Sally Alner's gelding loves some cut in the ground and put in a couple of very encouraging runs over fences before he was tried in decent company at Kempton last time and his jumping failed him late on. The opposition here is not quite so tough, and nor are these fences, and we will give him the nod to make amends.
King's Forest (IRE) 6-4fav (11-2) Pressed leader, led after 5th, headed 8th, led again 9th to 10th, lost 2nd when mistake 4 out, hit 3 out, soon beaten, mistake 2 out, 3rd of 5, 41l behind Seven Is My Number (11-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
King Caine (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Always well in rear, mistake 9th, tailed off when not fluent 12th, pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by The Hollinwell (11-4) at Warwick 2m 4f nov stks (3) sft in Jan, 6 ran.
Mon Chevalier (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, kept on from next, 4th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Rosoff (10-9) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec '08.
Quartz de Thaix (FR) 11-10fav (11-0) Led to 6th, not fluent after, went 2nd last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Leo's Lucky Star (11-0) at Warwick 2m beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Son Of Flicka 12-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway to go 3rd 3 out, closed on 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 3rd of 5, 18l behind The Nightingale (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chase (4) sft in Jan.
Vodka Brook (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, chased leaders 3 out, blundered and unseated rider next, in a race won by Polyfast (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec, 13 ran.
