in rear, mistake 9th, soon pushed along, struggling, headway 13th, chased winner next, ridden after 3 out, weakened flat
made most until headed, pecked 10th, jumped slowly next, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
jumped slowly 1st, chased leaders, reminders after 3rd, lost place 7th, tailed off 10th, pulled up before 4 out
prominent early, in touch, reminders before 9th, weakened 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up, pushed along approaching 11th, progress next, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up in touch, not fluent, reminders 2nd, driven along 8th, headway 9th, led 11th, mistake 12th, hit last, stayed on under pressure
prominent, jumped slowly 5th, led 10th to 11th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, driven along 4 out, mistake, weakened 3 out
In a tricky race, Quibble is selected ahead of Happy Shopper and Never Awol. Running through these runners and Would You Believe has not really built on his course and distance win of last March, although he has proven that he acts here. Denvale brings Hunter Chase form to the race but, hailing from canny connections, is not ruled out although he has a 274-day absence to defy. Follow The Flow is back to his winning course and distance mark from March 2005, but has not been so good of late. Happy Shopper, who races in first-time chheekpieces (although he was beaten in a first-time visor last time) is now just three pounds above his March 2006 winning mark but he too has been disappointing since in just a few runs, but Quibble comes here on the back of a good Musselburgh success, although he has been raised eight pounds for his troubles. Another Conquest is another not to have built on his 2006 course and distance win in just a few outings, while Never Awol's three career wins have come over course and distance and he is now close to a winning mark. Finally, Apple Joe is also a course and distance winner that is close to a 2005 winning mark. Make of all of this what you will but, because he is at least in good form, Quibble gets the nomination.
Would You Believe 11-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, driven along from 11th, weakened approaching 4 out, 6th of 7, 33l behind Tango Royal (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Denvale (IRE) 10-1 (12-3) Led to 14th, led again 17th to 2 out, 3rd and beaten when not fluent last, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Mister Friday (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (4) gd in May.
Follow The Flow (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Chased leader 1st, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Chopneyev (10-8) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Happy Shopper (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Tracked leader, weakened 6 out, beaten when pulled up 3 out in race won by Cinnamon Line (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Quibble 14-1 (11-5) Mid-division, effort 4 out, led after last, driven out, won at Musselburgh 3m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec beating Springaway (10-10) by 2l, 13 ran.
Another Conquest 20-1 (10-8) Mid-division, closer order 11th, hit next, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 30l behind Cinnamon Line (11-2) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Never Awol (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Led to 10th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Fisherman Jack (10-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan, 15 ran.
Apple Joe 11-1 (10-9) Chased leaders until weakened 3 out, 4th of 15, well behind Fisherman Jack (10-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan.
