with leader, led 4th, mistake and headed 4 out, soon ridden and weakened after 2 out
led to 4th, remained prominent, pushed along 10th, ridden and weakened next, soon tailed off
tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden and headed next, outpaced after 2 out
held up, mistake 8th, headway approaching 3 out, led on bit approaching last, easily
held up in touch, headway approaching 9th, challenged 4 out, led next, ridden 2 out, headed approaching last, one paced under pressure
held up, blundered 2nd, blundered 10th, soon lost touch, finished tailed off
A classy field of acceptors is set to head to post for the Martell Cognac Melling Chase and none of the sextet can be confidently ruled out. Cenkos and Edredon Bleu are old rivals and there it is likely that there will be little between them at the finish if the latter copes with his first visit to Aintree. Seebald is another whose consistency earns him plenty of respect, but his best efforts have been at the minimum trip over fences. Irish raider Native Upmanship, who got the better of Wahiba Sands, in last year¿s renewal, returns to his ideal trip and is selected to gain the day again. Connor O¿Dwyer has been in the saddle for all bar one of Native Upmanship's nine chase victories, and can get the best out of his mount in what has all the hallmarks of thrilling renewal.
