led, hard pressed 4 out, headed before next, soon ridden, outpaced when mistake next, lost 2nd and weakened before last
held up in rear, outpaced 11th, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 8th, joined leader 4 out, led before next, ridden and 5 lengths clear when blundered last, held on under pressure flat
held up in touch, headway 8th, blundered and lost place 10th, blundered next, soon behind, pulled up 3 out
held up in touch, mistake 7th, outpaced 5 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd before last, rallied flat, not reached winner
with leader, lost place 8th, weakened quickly and pulled up after next
HERECOMESTHETRUTH looks a good bet to land this handicap chase; the list of dangers is headed by Saphir Des Bois and Heathcote. Although our selection was no match for Monet's Garden at Ascot last time, he should be capable of landing this event. His jumping was not as fluent as usual on that occasion, but he got taken on for the lead and he did not get the race run to suit. He should have things his own way today and he rates as a confident choice. Saphir Des Bois looks the obvious alternative as he has winning form over this trip and he did run a respectable race last time out. He will relish the ground conditions and he should go well. Heathcote has got the blinkers back on today which should boost his claims, but he was disappointing last time and the handicapper may be catching up with him. Moon Over Miami failed to run his race at Doncaster last time but he had previously won well at Ffos Las, while Phillip Hobbs won this race last year so Or Bleu is another worthy of a mention. But Herecomesthetruth makes more appeal and he is taken to regain the winning thread.
Herecomesthetruth (IRE) 15-8fav (11-7) Led 1st to 5th, tracked winner, lost place and dropped to rear after 11th, headway under pressure at bypassed 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 6, 22l behind Monet's Garden (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f Grade 1 chs (1) gs.
Moon Over Miami (GER) 20-1 (10-12) Prominent, raced keenly, lost place approaching 7th, weakened 4 out, 10th of 15, 39l behind Kalahari King (11-12) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs (2) gs.
Saphir Des Bois (FR) 9-1 (10-3) Led, not fluent 9th, headed last, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Piraya (10-9) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs.
Heathcote 3-1fav (9-13) Held up, towards rear, not fluent 11th, soon ridden, stayed on from 2 out, never near leaders, 6th of 10, 9l behind Piraya (10-9) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs.
Or Bleu (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Towards rear, blundered 5th, never dangerous, 9th of 13, well behind The Sawyer (9-8) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Jan.
Radetsky March (IRE) 10-3fav (10-7) Led 1st until 6th, made most from next until ridden and headed 3 out, no extra next, 4th of 10, 21l behind Ballyfoy (11-12) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.
