Quartz Du Montceau has a 3lb pull in the weights with Hobb's Dream for the three-quarters of a length that separated the pair at Plumpton recently and there should not be much to choose between the two of them again here but both may have to settle for minor honours behind MONTANA GOLD, who gets the vote to gain a deserved first success of the season. Tim Vaughan's gelding has improved with each start this season and was narrolwy beaten behind Its A Classic at Fontwell last time for which a 5lb rise is perfectly fair and he can give weight away all round. Ray Mond is better than he showed behind Hobb's Dream at Plumpton and he should be suited by going right handed today so he cannot be discounted. David Pipe's Ronald Jack has slipped to a fair mark and he has to be respected with the yard's runners in good from now. Caroline Bailey's Wherrimon is hard to recommend on all known form and preference is for Tim Vaughan's Montana Gold, who looks to be going the right way and he can gain a deserved first success of the campaign.
Montana Gold (IRE) 2-1fav (11-1) Held up towards rear, mistake 11th, headway 15th, chased leaders next, led before 3 out, strongly challenged next, headed, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Its A Classic (11-11) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Quartz Du Montceau (FR) 10-3 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led after 14th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Hobb's Dream (9-10) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Coast Of Malabar (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Mid-division, blundered and unseated rider 5th, in a race won by Plum Pudding (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Jan, 13 ran.
Ronald Jack (FR) 13-2 (11-5) Towards rear, ridden after 5th, struggling 8th, 7th of 10, 17l behind Ballymorn (11-4) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Mister Pink 9-2 (10-6) Soon behind and detached, tailed off when pulled up after 7th, in a race won by Rince Donn (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) sft in Jan, 6 ran.
Wherrimon 150-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, under pressure 4 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, 19l behind Massasoit (11-0) at Fakenham 3m beg chase (4) sft in Jan.
Sir Punjabi 9-1 (9-13) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Meet Me At Dawn (9-11) at Huntingdon 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Ray Mond 15-8fav (11-0) Led, headed after 14th, weakened from 4 out, 3rd of 5, well behind Hobb's Dream (9-10) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Hobb's Dream (IRE) 5-1 (9-10) Held up in touch, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led towards finish, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan beating Quartz Du Montceau (11-7) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Kiltimoney (IRE) 7-1 (10-1) Held up in touch, lost place 10th, behind when pulled up after 13th, in a race won by Its A Classic (11-11) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
One Step Closer (IRE) 33-1 (9-11) Prominent, chased leaders and under pressure 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 9, 25l behind Ban Uisce (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-85 (5) sft in Jan.
