led, hit 5th, clear when hit 7th, reduced lead 9th, pushed along before 2 out, headed last, eased when held run-in
held up in last pair, blundered and dropped to last at 6th, reminders before 9th, plugged on into modest 4th run-in
tracked leading trio, 3rd at 7th, held when blundered 3 out, struggling next, lost modest 3rd at the last and weakened into 5th run-in
mistakle 1st, chased leading pair, 2nd approaching 4th until 6th, chased leaders, weakened 9th, behind and eased before 4 out, tailed off
mistake 1st, held up in rear, 2nd approaching 4th until 6th, chased leaders, went 4th at 9th, plugged on into modest 3rd at the last
tracked leader until approaching 4th, chased leading pair, 2nd again 6th, ridden to challenge between last 2, led last, well in command run-in
This has been run eight times and the favourite has won them all, including the last seven at odds on. LE MERCUREY looks like being a short price on his chasing debut and has the potential to go on to bigger things. Twice a winner over hurdles at Auteuil and unluckily falling in the other, the Paul Nicholls recruit had three runs at a high level last season and showed up well though his pedigree is all about jumping fences and he can make a successful transition. Violet Dancer is penalised for his victory on fast ground at Towcester but that should not prevent Gary Moore's very useful hurdler, the Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle winner at Newbury in February, making a bold bid to concede the weight to the selection though he may need to jump better here. Cadoudoff made his chasing debut here last month and ran well enough on ground that would have been fast enough. Alan King does well with his runners here and it is significant that Inner Drive faces fences for the first time after just two runs over timber.
Violet Dancer 9-4fav (11-0) Made all, not fluent 3rd, blundered 4th, pressed 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Towcester 2m (4) gf in Oct beating Minella Present (11-6) by 3 1/4l, 4 ran.
Cadoudoff (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Held up, not fluent 8th, headway from 10th, not fluent 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Andy Kelly (11-1) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Inner Drive (IRE) 2-1fav (11-8) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, smooth headway into 4th before 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, ridden before last, upsides and every chance run-in, just failed, 2nd of 6, shd behind Rock The Kasbah (11-1) at Newbury 2m 5f (3) gs in Mar.
Kazlian (FR) 14-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, weakened before 3 out, 4th of 7, 26 1/2l behind Nexius (11-8) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Kingfisher Creek 25-1 (10-12) Held up, not fluent 8th or 10th, weakened 11th, 6th of 7, dist behind Coologue (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Le Mercurey (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Held up behind, headway after 3 out, outpaced after next, ridden to chase clear leaders before last, never on terms, 7th of 21, 13 1/2l behind Killultagh Vic (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
