pressed leader, blundered 10th, led 14th, headed 16th, stayed chasing leader until weakened before 3 out
held up in rear, steady headway from 16th, went 2nd before 3 out, challenged next, led narrowly last, kept narrow advantatge under hand riding run-in, driven to assert near finish
behind, not fluent 12th, hit 17th, well behind when blundered last
towards rear, blundered 18th, stayed on after 4 out, went 3rd run-in, no chance with front pair
raced wide, close up until steadily lost place after 13th, behind when hit 18th, tailed off
in touch, ridden and struggling when mistake 16th (water)
chased leaders in 4th, chased leading pair under pressure 3 out, no impression from next, lost moderate 3rd run-in
chased leaders in 3rd until 12th, soon lost place
led, clear 9th, mistake 11th, headed 14th, soon weakened
in touch, headway to track leading pair 12th, led 16th, clear after 4 out, ridden and joined 2 out, narrowly headed last, stayed challenging gamely run-in, just held
not fluent, always struggling in rear
towards rear, headway to track leaders 11th, lost place before 13th, soon tailed off
Inca Trail gets the vote here with Back Nine and Mercato taken to chase him home. The selection won well last time when beating Back Nine over this course and distance and as our selection re-opposes today on better terms he is taken to confirm that form. Back Nine was given plenty to do by his pilot last time so he may be given a more positive ride here, but he still looks to have a little to find to reverse the form. Mercato is not the force that he once was and he finished third behind Inca Trail and Back Nine on this track last time. He may be good enough to finish third but it will be a surprise if he is good enough to win this. Bang And Blame has been running well of late but he is best on stamina-sapping ground and he looks worth taking on today. Burwood Breeze will have trip and ground to suit so is another that is worth considering, but for the winner we will stick with Inca Trail.
Heidi III (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Held up, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Skenfrith (10-0) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
Inca Trail (IRE) 11-8 (12-7) Close up, challenged 2 out, nudged into lead run-in, cleverley, won at Sandown 3m amt chs (3) hvy in Feb beating Back Nine (11-7) by a hd, 7 ran.
Snowy Ford (IRE) 25-1 (11-8) Behind, ridden and not fluent 8th, tailed off when pulled up at the 16th in race won by Korelo (11-10) at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Back Nine (IRE) 11-10fav (11-7) In touch, led approaching 2 out, joined last, headed run-in, no extra, 2nd of 7, hd behind Inca Trail (12-7) at Sandown 3m amt chs (3) hvy in Feb.
Bang And Blame (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Led, blundered 11th, headed 4 out, soon ridden, outpaced and weakened 2 out, 4th of 12, 30l behind Matmata de Tendron (9-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
Blazing Batman 33-1 (9-11) Soon well behind, tailed off when mistake 12th, 7th of 9, well behind Ebony Jack (9-11) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
Burwood Breeze (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Mistakes, chased leaders, blundered 10th, hit 3 out, weakened soon after next, 5th of 14, 13l behind Zeta's River (11-2) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Mar '05.
Cedar Chief 40-1 (11-3) Blundered badly 1st, in touch until weakened from 17th, 5th of 7, 22l behind Inca Trail (12-7) at Sandown 3m amt chs (3) hvy in Feb.
Double Account (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Prominent, blundered 11th, weakened 17th, 6th of 7, 22l behind Inca Trail (12-7) at Sandown 3m amt chs (3) hvy in Feb.
Happy Hussar (IRE) 100-1 (9-9) Always towards rear, 13th of 16, well behind Ivoire De Beaulieu (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs 0-150 (B) gs in Dec.
Mercato (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Lost ground at start, headway 15th, stayed on from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Inca Trail (12-7) at Sandown 3m amt chs (3) hvy in Feb.
River Paradise (IRE) 66-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, steadily lost place from 11th, soon well behind, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Inca Trail (12-7) at Sandown 3m amt chs (3) hvy in Feb.
