A race no less competitive for its lack of numbers and top-weighted Petito will set a fair standard having relished the combination of testing conditions and a step up in trip at Newton Abbot. It will be a fine weight carrying performance if he can shoulder 11st 12lb around Worcester so preference is for recent course-and-distance scorer QUALYPSO D'ALLIER. The eight-year-old put up a largely solid round of jumping at the track last week and a winner's penalty should not be enough to stop him from following up. Bobby Bullock is a dour stayer that was far from disgraced behind Aqualung earlier this month. Noble Witness has shown very little of late, whilst Antonius Caesar, who has been point-to-pointing, is probably best watched.
Petito (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jun beating Olympian Boy (11-10) by 4l, 5 ran.
Noble Witness (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place after 14th, weakened approaching 4 out, 6th of 11, well behind La Pantera Rosa (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in May.
Antonius Caesar (FR) 14-1 (12-0) Hdwy 14; one pce 3 out, 3rd of 17, 9l behind Crazy Eyes (12-0) at Chaddesley Corbett 3m ptp gd in Feb.
Qualypso D'allier (FR) 11-2 (11-8) Towards rear, headway before 5 out, led after 4 out, clear from last, stayed on well, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft beating Our Flora (10-5) by 7l, 12 ran.
Bobby Bullock (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) In touch on outside, joined winner 5th, led narrowly 8th to 10th, outpaced when hung left approaching 3 out, no chance with winner approaching next, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Aqualung (11-12) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
