held up in touch, hampered 7th, led 10th, mistake 3 out, ridden 2 out, kept on
prominent, blundered 2nd and rider lost irons, reminders 3rd, lost touch 5th, continued
led, clear 6th, fell 7th
prominent, reminders 5th, hampered 7th, left in lead, headed 10th, rallied 2 out, held towards finish
with leader, pecked 1st, mistake 9th, conceded to 3rd from next
QUICKBEAM can cut Overbranch down to size with Consigliere the only other runner that appeals. Neither Oscar Owen nor Roseville have done enough to think that they can take this race without receiving a large slice of fortune and it's pretty easy to whittle the field down to three. Consigliere has already gone close in a chase at this track and the experience will stand him in good stead but the feeling is that Quickbeam has more scope. Overbranch is improving with every run over fences and went close to achieving a first success in this sphere on soft ground at Uttoxeter a fortnight ago and she will be a tough nut to crack. The selection finished very weary on his chase bow over 3 miles at Exeter where he came up against a Nicholls hotpot but he had travelled and jumped well for a long way. The run should have brought him on, the drop back in trip looks sure to suit and he was a progressive hurdler last season who always promised to make a better chaser and Quickbeam can take this before going on to better things.
Consigliere (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 10th, blundered badly 12th, soon beaten, 5th of 11, 48l behind Scalloway (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Jun.
Oscar Owen (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Chased leader, not fluent 2nd, reminders 6th, jumped slowly and weakened 8th, 7th of 13, well behind Cape Tribulation (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs.
Quickbeam (IRE) 11-4 (10-9) Tracked winner, ridden to challenge approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 8, 37l behind Nevada Royale (10-12) at Exeter 3m nov chs (3) hvy.
Overbranch 13-8fav (11-12) Chased leaders, dropped to last after 6th, rallied to go 2nd 8th, led approaching 3 out, jumped right last, headed final 100 yards, stayed on, 2nd of 5, nk behind Paquet Cadeau (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Roseville (IRE) 80-1 (10-6) Led, headed 6th, weakened 14th, 5th of 6, well behind Gone To Lunch (11-2) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (4) gd.