tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, went 2nd at 8th, joined leader 3 out, led approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly, eased flat
held up in touch, clundered 4th, ridden and looked held in 3rd when fell 2 out
held up, weakened after 4 out
led and soon clear, headed approaching 2 out, weakened flat
behind, blundered 2nd, tailed off from 5th, pulled up before 4 out
prominent, hard ridden and outpaced after 3 out, left modest 3rd 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, took 2nd final 50 yards, no impression on winner
in touch, mistake 6th, keeping on same pace when hampered 2 out, stayed on well flat
in touch when fell 10th
mostly chased leader until mistake 8th, remained close up, blundered 12th, weakened after 4 out
always in rear, tailed off from 8th, pulled up before 4 out
A potentially interesting novices' handicap chase in which the weights are headed by the Richard Philips-trained La Landiere. The mare has gone from strength-to-strength this season winning novice chases at Market Rasen, Chepstow and Wincanton before landing a handicap at Kempton over Christmas. The second that day Ibis Rochelais meets his conqueror on 13lb better terms for a 12-length beating and should not be discounted, especially with the stable of Albert Ennis in better form of late. The Paul Nicholls-trained Ask The Natives has not always been the most reliable of performers but has strong claims if able to reproduce his best form, while Martin Pipe's Ideal Du Bois Beury has been let in on a favourable mark on hurdles form although his recent efforts over fences leave him something to find. Ferdy Murphy's Sea Drifting opened his account over the larger obstacles when winning a moderate race at Musselburgh last month and has to be respected off his lightweight 10st 1lb. Pendle Hill's placed efforts behind The Bajan Bandit and Man Murphy have been noted by the handicapper and we prefer to side with Irish Hussar. A decent novice hurdler last term, the son of Supreme Leader made a winning start to his chase career when beating Ask Henry (winner since) at Wincanton. While he needs to improve again to take a hand off his mark of 130, there is scope for the seven-year-old to do so and it may be that Nicky Henderson's gelding is a cut above his rivals.
