close up, went 3rd 12th, tracked leader next, challenged and awkward 2 out, upsides, going well last, nudged into lead run-in, cleverley
lost ground at start, well behind, hit 11th, headway and in touch from 15th, stayed on from 2 out to take 3rd last, no chance with front pair
prominent, ridden to track leader when blundered 11th, lost 2nd 13th, weakened under pressure before 18th
held up in touch, went 3rd at 14th, disputing 2nd from 4 out, led approaching 2 out, joined last, driven and headed run-in, not pace of winner
tracking leader when blundered badly and nearly unseated rider 1st, in touch until weakened from 17th
led at good pace, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten, lost 3rd last
ran without tongue strap, raced very wide, soon tracked leader, steadily lost place from 11th, soon well behind, tailed off
Back Nine gets the vote here with Inca Trail and Double Account rated as the main dangers. The selection is not the most reliable jumper but he put in a clear round last time and he is proven in testing ground and he looks the percentage call. Inca Trail is a full brother to Best Mate and he goes well fresh but all his best efforts have been on a faster surface and for that reason he may just be worth taking on today. Double Account was returning from a seven month break when last seen out at Cheltenham and he is sure to come on for the run. He will handle today's ground conditions so he has to enter calculations even if he hasn't won a race for nearly three years. Mercato may prove best of the rest but for the winner we return to Back Nine.
Inca Trail (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Held up, headway 18th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 16, 5l behind Ivoire De Beaulieu (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs 0-150 (B) gs in Dec.
Mercato (FR) 4-1jt-fav (11-1) Held up, headway 12th, ridden after 4 out, weakened next pulled up at the last in race won by Alcatras (9-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Dec, 9 ran.
Double Account (FR) 33-1 (11-0) 3rd of 13, 17l behind Titus Bramble (11-0) at Weston Park 3m ptp gf.
Back Nine (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden 10th, kept on one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 10, 34l behind Racing Demon (11-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) gs.
Cedar Chief 14-1 (12-7) 5th of 12, 41l behind Deep Pockets (12-0) at Point To Point 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Lord Kilpatrick (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) 2nd of 12, 4l behind Itzacliche (12-0) at Dunthrop 3m ptp gd in Jan.
River Paradise (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) pulled up in race won by Ball In The Net (12-0) at Lockinge 3m ptp gf in Mar, 8 ran.
