chased leaders, weakening when stumbled on bend approaching 3 out, no danger after
held up in touch, mistake 7th, outpaced when not much room on bend approaching 3 out, headway under pressure after 2 out, kept on run-in
held up towards rear, headway on inside 3 out, effort 2 out, kept on same pace
held up in touch, headway 4 out, led 3 out, headed approaching last, no extra run-in
led to 2nd, remained close-up, weakening when mistake 3 out
towards rear, never dangerous
tracked leaders, headway after 4 out, led approaching last, stayed on
towards rear, never dangerous
held up in mid-division, headway 4 out, challenged 3 out, every chance 2 out and last, kept on
towards rear, pushed along 6th, brief effort approaching 3 out, weakened next
towards rear, mistake 7th, ridden next, effort approaching 3 out, no impression from 2 out
held up in touch, headway to lead after 4 out, headed 3 out, soon weakened
led 2nd, headed after 4 out, soon weakened
In the finale, Inglis Drever can make amends for a narrow Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle defeat by getting the better of Cardenas, Garde Champetre, Court Shareef and, possibly, Time To Shine. Undoubtedly, the Howard Johnson-trained selection is one of the very-best novices that we have seen this season and, if fully recovered from his Cheltenham exertions, should take all the beating. Prior to that he had notched a hat-trick of wins, perfomances that saw him sent off as the race-favourite at Prestbury Park. The Charlie Egerton-trained Cardenas also showed high-class novice form to finish fourth in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham and, already a winner over today's trip in Italy, looks set to run well. Given that Garde Champetre is eight-pounds better off for the half-length that he finished behind him that day then the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding clearly also holds a solid chance. Perle de Puce looked useful when beating Lingo at Ascot in December but has disappointed twice since, including when pulled up in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, while Court Shareef ran a blinder to finish second at 100/1 in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham last time and he's entitled to go well again. Of the others, the Irish raider Strike Back, who will enjoy the better going today, could go well and Time To Shine is ten-pounds better off with Distant Thunder for two lengths based on their Sandown runs last time, so she too could go well with the race-weights favouring her. Numitas showed a lot of promise when scoring on his debut at Newbury but the form has been let down since, while Monet's Garden steps up in grade now following three comfortable wins. He has a progressive look to him but we'll find out a lot more about him today. In conclusion, then, Inglis Drever looks the one to beat.
