2.00 Bangor
Quartz De Thaix 14/1
Venetia Williams's 8 year old clearly comes with some risks attached after a woeful campaign in his 4 runs last season (1 chasing, 3 hurdling) but if she's reinvigorated him during his 259 day break then I think he has the potential to comfortably beat this Class 3 field off a mark of 130. Clearly the most talented horse on his day (at least over hurdles) Quartz De Thaix's rating over the smaller obstacles peaked at a mark of 148 with his best career performance a very impressive victory in a Class 2 handicap hurdle off a mark of 142 under top weight back in November 2010. Although more lightly raced over the larger obstacles, he did put in some very nice performances in the early months of 2011. After landing a 5 runner Beginners' Chase when odds on at Hereford over an extended 2m5f on heavy ground in February 2011 from a horse who won by 34L on his next start (still pretty ordinary form), he won what has turned out to be a very hot Novice Chase on his next start in facile fashion by 18L. Although only a 4 runner field, I think the form of this race can be taken on merit as it was a strongly run affair. Under todays jockey Aiden Coleman, Quartz De Thaix took up the running from 3 out and he was eased close home to score at Newton Abbott over 2m5f in March of last year. The form of that race has worked out very, very well. The second Ace High, who was receiving 6lb from Venetia Williams charge, won his next start in a Novice Chase before running an excellent 3rd off a mark of 142 in a handicap on the back of a years absence last month. The 3rd home Ikorodu Road, beaten 36L and also receiving 6lb, is now rated 141 over the larger obstacles (although it did take him a year to win again and reach this rating) whilst the 4th Rebel Du Maquis (technically receiving 1lb from Quartz De Thaix given Ryan Mahon's claim) won his next two starts over fences, the latter being an 11L success off a mark of 142. Based on this effort alone, it really makes Quartz De Thaix's mark of 130 look very manageable.
10 days after that excellent Novice Chase success, Quartz De Thaix made his handicap debut over fences at the Cheltenham Festival in the Grade 3 Byrnes Group Plate off a mark of 137 over 2m5f where he was sent off the 7/1 3rd choice in the betting. That day he seemed outpaced when the tempo was lifted and he dropped back in the field before rallying late on to finish a very respectable 16L beaten 7th. He definitely shaped as if he would relish the step up in trip which he gets today with the extended 3m today. That was his last start of the 2011/2012 season and he really didn't perform very well after that. He made his reappearance in Listed Handicap at Cheltenham in October when pulled up before embarking on 3 hurdles runs between November-February whereby he was very poor as well. He certainly wasn't the same horse that was seen in the early months of 2011 and I honestly have no clue why he performed so badly. He's had a long 9 month absence since his last run and I'm hoping Venetia Williams has gotten to the bottom of him because at 8 years old he certainly shouldn't be on the sort of downgrade that he appeared to be on in his 4 runs last season. Although pulled up on his seasonal reappearance last year, his career best effort over hurdles came on the back of a 7 month break so he clearly has the ability to go well fresh and I'm hoping that's the case tomorrow. Although unproven over 3m, I certainly think he shouldn't have a problem with this trip given his staying on performance over shorter in at the Cheltenham Festival and I think he could even improve for the step up in trip. Aidan Coleman takes the ride and I think its very interesting he comes to Bangor as Venetia Williams has two decent looking chances at Exeter (both of whom Coleman has won on) so I'm hoping that's a sign that a big run is expected from Quartz De Thaix. Although he comes here on the back of a woeful 2011/2012 season which is clearly a big concern, I think he looks potentially far too well handicapped to leave unbacked at 14/1 and with Venetia Williams in red hot form at present I hope this 8 year old can rediscover the form of 20 months ago and begin the season with a bang.
Only joking Ardent... You couldn't have picked me n Bob a more competitive race had you tried...
