chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, mistake last, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
slow 1st, in last pair, well in touch after 3 out, ridden and one pace before next
held up in last pair, headway when mistake 4 out, led 2 out, clear last, ran on well, readily
led until 2nd, chased clear leader until 6th, last 3 out, well beaten before next
with leader, led 2nd, clear next, hit 4 out, blundered 3 out, soon headed, weakened before next
chased leaders, went 2nd behind clear leader 6th, not fluent 4 out, led after 3 out, headed next, soon outpaced by winner, lost 2nd flat
Qualando has left Paul Nicholls for Alan Jones and hasn’t won for two years. He’s also been chasing lately and looks to be facing a stiff task under top weight. Nicholls runs the four-year-old Volpone Jelois in this but he weakened quickly once headed over 2m here last time, though has finished in the frame in all previous starts on the track. THE UNIT (NAP) ran well behind Air Horse One over course and distance in January and that form was franked when the winner landed a competitive handicap at Ascot next time off a 7lb higher mark. Alan King’s charge has to be thereabouts on that evidence but Zarib is stepping back from a spell chasing and Roadie Joe is still out of sorts. St Saviour went close at Hereford in December but hasn’t sparkled since.
Qualando (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Held up, off the pace in 5th, closer 10th, left disputing 2nd 12th until 4 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before next, 5th of 7, 18 3/4l behind Calett Mad (11-9) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Zarib (IRE) 50-1 (11-1) Mistakes, held up, closed 3rd, lost place when fell 11th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
The Unit (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, closed next, not fluent 6th, hit next, challenged after 2 out, driven and edged left flat, no impression on winner towards finish, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Air Horse One (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) gd in Jan.
Roadie Joe (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Led until 3 out, every chance when fell next, at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
St Saviour 8-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th or 5th, in touch 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 8, 19 3/4l behind Mr Fitzroy (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Volpone Jelois (FR) 13-8 (10-13) Soon well clear, reduced lead before 5th, headed approaching 2 out, beaten when not fluent last, 2nd of 14, 14l behind Mohaayed (11-3) at Taunton 2m (4) sft in Feb.
