took keen hold, prominent, pressed winner from 5th until blundered badly and unseated rider 9th
held up in 5th, not fluent 7th, blundered and unseated rider 9th
jumped well, led 2nd, ridden out
always well in rear, mistake 9th, tailed off when not fluent 12th, pulled up after 3 out
not fluent early, led to 2nd, left chasing winner 9th until bad mistake next, raced in third after until again chased winner 2 out, stayed on flat, always held
Ferdy Murphy has his string in good heart at present so The Hollinwell has to be respected especially having won well at Hexham in November and running well in defeat the following month at the same venue but he needs to improve again to get the better of QULINTON, who gets the vote ahead of Bakbenscher. Alan King's gelding showed a decent level of form over hurdles and looks to be at least as good over fences with decent efforts when chasing home Red Admiral at Wincanton prior to winning at the same venue on his most recent start over the larger obstacles. The stable's runners are in good form so he has to be respected and makes more appeal than Ben De Haan's Matuhi, who was well held by Dave's Dream at Huntingdon in November. Sue Smith's Gansey looks to be going the right way over fences but this looks tougher than the races that he has won at Haydock and Wetherby in his last two starts and preference is for Qulinton. David Pipe's gelding was useful over hurdles but looks even better over fences judged by his smooth success over lady Pilot at Southwell in November. That was on fast ground but the softer going today should not inconvenience the six-year-old, who can take this before going on to better things.
Gansey (IRE) 8-11fav (11-6) Led from 1st, headed approaching 3rd, led 4 out, stayed on well from last, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy in Dec beating Rory Boy (10-10) by 5l, 4 ran.
Bakbenscher 5-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, not far away, not fluent 7th, improved to press leaders from 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Wincanton 2m 5f beg chs (4) hvy in Dec beating Aux Le Bahnn (11-0) by nk, 5 ran.
Matuhi 8-1 (11-6) Led, raced keenly, not fluent 2nd, hit 8th, headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 5, 22l behind Dave's Dream (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
The Hollinwell 6-4 (11-7) Led, ridden approaching last, headed when no extra towards finish, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Abbeybraney (11-1) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (4) hvy in Dec.
King Caine (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up, took keen hold, not fluent 4 out, jumped left and mistake 3 out, went 3rd approaching last, never dangerous, 3rd of 7, 22l behind Recif De Thaix (10-8) at Hereford 2m beg chs (3) sft in Dec.
Roman Conquest 11-2 (10-11) Held up in rear, fell 3rd, in a race won by Massasoit (11-0) at Fakenham 3m beg chase (4) sft, 6 ran.
Qulinton (FR) Evensfav (11-2) Jumped well, made all, clear after 2nd, unchallenged after, very easily, won at Southwell 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Nov beating Lady Pilot (10-9) by 25l, 4 ran.
