Time for Quinze to produce the goods

Almost two years have elapsed since Quinze won his Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse and his habit of showing himself off has cost him dearly in the eyes of the handicapper. That day he drove clear of his field four fences from home and won by an extravagant 25 lengths from Halfpenny Bridge.

He then beat Go Roger Go by 10 lengths at Galway next time out, but whereas Go Roger Go was able to win the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham last season, no similar race figures on the chasing record of Quinze.

Had he been less exuberant in the past he would have made an even better race of it with the so-called handicap certainty Grimes in this month's Compaq Galway Plate. As it panned out, he was beaten only one and a half lengths and had last year's Galway Plate winner Dovaly (to whom he was giving 18lbs) a length behind.

After that brave run, who would begrudge the horse this afternoon's Denny Gold Medal Handicap Chase, in which he has to give away from 22lbs up to 35lbs. If successful Quinze could be the foundation of a fine afternoon for his trainer Pat Hughes, who has four other possible winners.

On paper his Sweet Brief should have no chance of giving weight and a beating to Best Grey in the Denny Havasnack, as his rival cannot be too far off Group Three class on the flat. However, this sharp turning track could prove ideal for the forcing tactics that Sweet Brief adopted with such success at Leopardstown. Rapid Deployment a 0-65 handicap under 10 stone at Dundalk last time, now carries the same in a 0-75. He had the services of the record-breaking jump jockey Charlie Swan at Dundalk and now the mount is taken by Michael Kinane, returning after his two-day suspension.

Another good chance for the Hughes/Kinane team is presented by Sherry Season, who showed a lot of promise as a two-year-old.

Kinane rides for his number one retainer in the Median Auction Maiden, although Manchester has not yet done anything to justify Alex Ferguson's faith in him.