held up, headway to track leaders before 3 out, no impression and beaten from 2 out
mid-division, hit 7th and 8th, pushed along after, stayed on after 2 out, went 4th flat, never going pace to challenge
held up in touch, raced keenly, not fluent 4 out, slightly outpaced after, rallied, in touch after 3 out, weakened after 2 out
held up, behind, mistake 7th, no chance from next
prominent, ridden after 9th, hit 3 out, soon hung left, weakened 2 out
chased leader, led 9th, headed after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, eased
held up towards rear, headway when not clear run on bend briefly after 9th, switched right before challenging last, led flat, ran on gamely
held up, headway 8th, led and hit last, ridden and headed flat, kept on, always held towards finish
held up in touch, took keen hold, hit 4th, led after 3 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra flat
led, not fluent, headed 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, jumped right last
mid-division, headway approaching 8th, not fluent 9th, soon pushed along, every chance 2 out, hung left approaching last, soon beaten
always behind, no chance after 9th
held up in touch, lost place after 6th, behind next, mistake 8th
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, pushed along before 7th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway 8th, driven after next, weakened after 2 out, mistake last
prominent, pushed along when hit 8th, soon struggling, weakened after 9th
Inglis Drever can send himself into a happy retirement if securing a third championship and we take him to see off Lough Derg and Hardy Eustace in the process. Howard Johnson's team were allegedly under a cloud earlier last month but the performance of Tidal Bay on Tuesday shows us that they are running well enough and provided that Inglis Drever turns up fit and well, the double champion can justify the short odds that one anticipates of one so dominant in their division. Lough Derg has had hard race after hard race but he is unflinching in his efforts. He wrestled himself off the canvas to see off My Way De Solzen and Elusive Dream in his latest endeavour. Hardy Eustace steps up in trip after a correct decision to miss the Champion Hurdle. Connections are confident that he stays three miles but the jury is still very much out as to whether it was the ground or the trip that was culpable for his demise at the hands of Lough Derg earlier in the season. Blazing Bailey is exposed at top grade as not quite being good enough but he has place claims if bringing his "A" game to the table and it would be no surprise to see him the subject of support if those odds are pushed out a little too far. Kasbah Bliss won well at Haydock and went a small way to justifying plenty of the hype that has accompanied him in the past. He is likely to be under the severe hold up here. Wichita Lineman needs to desperately get his season on track and it remains to be seen as to whether he can do it here. He has looked all over a three mile stayer though his fortunes this term have been entirely symbolic of those of his trainer. Failed chaser, Kazal could give a good account at big odds as Barry Geraghty looked to get on well with him when the partnership saw off Aitmatov at Navan. The Market Man has been spoken of as a lively outsider by many tipsters over the course of the winter despite the formbook suggesting that he'll need to find a fair degree of improvement on paper. Inglis Drever looks difficult to oppose this afternoon and we seek not to do so.
Aitmatov (GER) 3-1jt-fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, progress 3 out, no impression run-in, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Kazal (11-8) at Navan 2m 5f hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Blazing Bailey 11-4 (11-8) In touch, tracked leaders 6th, ridden to lead after 2 out, headed before last, no extra, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Inglis Drever (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan.
Chief Dan George (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) In touch, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 21l behind Kasbah Bliss (11-12) at Haydock 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Ebaziyan (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, 12th of 15, 36l behind Katchit (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs.
Flight Leader (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up when mistake 4th, never on terms, 5th of 8, 21l behind Lough Derg (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Feb.
Hardy Eustace (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (11-10) Led, ridden along from 3 out, headed before next, 2nd entering straight, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Sizing Europe (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Jan.
Inglis Drever 11-8fav (11-8) Held up, headway 3 out, soon driven, led before last, stayed on well, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan beating Blazing Bailey (11-8) by 5l, 10 ran.
Kasbah Bliss (FR) 17-2 (11-12) Held up, chased leaders approaching 4 out, ridden to lead after last, quicken clear, won at Haydock 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb beating Lough Derg (11-12) by 4l, 7 ran.
Kazal (FR) 4-1 (11-8) Tracked leader in 2nd, led from 7th, ridden and stayed on well from 3 out, comfortably, won at Navan 2m 5f hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Aitmatov (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Lough Derg (FR) 5-1 (11-11) Led, headed 3rd, ridden 6th, soon outpaced, staying on from next, still plenty to do approaching last, ran on to lead close home, won at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Feb beating My Way de Solzen (11-3) by 2l, 8 ran.
My Way de Solzen (FR) 11-8fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, hampered and left in lead 6th, ridden and not fluent 2 out, all out and wandering when headed close home, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Lough Derg (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Feb.
Redemption 100-1 (11-8) Held up, headway after 9th, weakened 2 out, 9th of 10, 43l behind Inglis Drever (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan.
Sonnyanjoe (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, led 9th until after 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 7th of 10, 29l behind Inglis Drever (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan.
Special Envoy (FR) 11-4 (11-4) Chased leader, blundered 4 out, not recover and pulled up 3 out in race won by Kasbah Bliss (11-12) at Haydock 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb, 7 ran.
The Market Man (NZ) 5-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, no extra from last, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Silverburn (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f nov chs Grd 1 (1) sft in Feb.
Wichita Lineman (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 11l behind Kasbah Bliss (11-12) at Haydock 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Material World 5-2fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway 3 out, hung right next, stayed on same pace, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Labelthou (11-5) at Ascot 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
