QUOQUO DE CHALON A VERY SMART CROSS COUNTRY CHASER

During the big freeze I've found myself studying races and horses that would normally escape my attention. One of them I stumbled across that looks well worth remembering is QUOQUO CHALON (37) who won a decent Cross Country Chase at Pau.

After giving his rivals a jumping lesson around the tight, twisting circuit over a wide variety of obstacles, Quoquo De Chalon arrived at the last in the lead cruising with all his rivals off the bridle. There was a sprint finish so he had to be ridden out but he was always going much the best and won full of run by a length and a half from the only rival able to mount a challenge.

Quoquo De Chalon won his first start over Cross Country fences by a neck from one of the better French horses in this discipline. And my strong suspicion is that he would have won his second too but for being carried out after halfway, having moved up rapidly from the rear while going ominously well.

The rating I've given Quoquo De Chalon is a guesstimate, but my feeling is that it may prove to be on the low side as this strong, barrel chested six year old jumps exceptionally well, stays all day and has an unusually good turn of foot for a chaser.

According to that very useful website www.frogsracing.com Quoquo De Chalon's jockey said after the race "He is delicate and still has a lot to learn. But on what he has done today he has the right to run in the Grand Cross." He is referring to the bog Cross Country race run at Pau in February over 3m 7f. My feeling is that Quoquo De Chalon has a big shot of taking that. He'd certainly be very interesting if shipped over for Britain's top Cross Country Chase over the same trip at the Cheltenham Festival in March.