2nd-Mar-2013

Quentin Collonges is particularly interesting. He ran the two best races of his life on good ground at this time last year, winning a three-mile handicap chase at today’s venue and then finishing second to the talented Problema Tic (from whom there is surely more still to come), when he threw the race away really by jumping to his left. He was so progressive that he was actually sent off as short as 8/1 for last year’s Scottish National, but that was all a bit much for him, he could never get into a rhythm, and he was ultimately pulled up.

He has been well beaten in both of his runs this term to date as well, but he did run well for a long way on his debut, and the ground was just much too soft for him last time in the Classic Chase at Warwick. The handicapper dropped him another 5lb for that run, which means that he races today off a mark of 127 (he is 2lb out of the handicap), which is 7lb lower than his peak, and which gives him a big chance back on good ground.

He bounces off good ground, two of his four wins have been at Doncaster, and it is probable that he has been trained for this race, given his affinity with the track. Trainer Henry Daly’s horses are flying at present – he has had three winners from his last eight runners, and he has had other horses run really well of late at massive prices – and, with just seven runs over fences under his belt, Quentin Collonges still has scope for progression.

QUENTIN COLLONGES WON (ADV 10/1, SP 15/2)