in rear and brought down on bend after 2nd
mid-division, weakened 14th
held up in rear, some headway after 10th, in 5th and ridden when mistake 4 out, weakened soon after
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
tracking leaders when clipped heels and slipped up on bend after 2nd
mid-division, slowly jump 2nd, ridden 8th, weakened 9th and lost touch 13th
led, ridden and headed 4 out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, led briefly 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace
always in rear, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, slightly hampered on bend after 2nd, chased leaders 5 out, pecked and weakened next
tracked leaders and keen, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, led 2 out, ridden out
in touch, ridden and weakened 14th
mid-division, weakened 10th, soon behind
towards rear, brought down on bend after 2nd
Sweet Diversion, Inca Trail and Swansea Bay are the three to look at here and preference is for Inca Trail to make a winning seasonal reappearance. A winner at Cheltenham in April, Sweet Diversion has been keeping good company since and has run respectably. Despite coming under the Nicholls' banner he is taken on. A winner at Newton Abbott in August last year, Swansea Bay has been lightly raced since but shaped well at Bangor last time, hampered by a loose horse but only beaten eight lengths. Unfancied on that occasion, he will be sharper today and can go well. Inca Trail won three times last season and ran well for a long way before tiring in the Grand National. he seems something of a reformed character these days and hailing from a yard in form Inca Trail can make a winning seasonal re-appearance of what looks a very fair mark.
Fool On The Hill 11-2fav (11-10) Towards rear, mistake 2nd, ridden and weakened 11th, 8th of 14, well behind Kings Brook (10-2) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Aug.
Sweet Diversion (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Prominent until ridden and weakened 9th, 9th of 14, well behind Kings Brook (10-2) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Aug.
Inca Trail (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 19th, 11th of 18, well behind Lacdoudal (11-5) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Bronzesmith 16-1 (11-3) Held up in mid-division, lost place 6th, behind when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Kings Brook (10-2) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Aug, 14 ran.
Dunbrody Millar (IRE) 11-1 (10-6) Led and jumped left, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Mckelvey (10-10) at Uttoxeter 4m lst hcp chs (1) gf in Jul, 15 ran.
Naunton Brook 11-1 (10-11) Mid-division, weakened 9th, lost touch 15th, 16th of 17, well behind Sweet Diversion (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Swansea Bay 8-1 (10-13) Led 2nd, hampered by loose horse and headed 9th, hampered 14th, one pace from 3 out, 4th of 7, 8l behind Mr Fluffy (10-11) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Aug.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, 6th approaching halfway, 4th 7 out, no extra from 5 out, 8th of 14, 48l behind One Four Shannon (10-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 gd in Apr.
East Lawyer (FR) 7-1 (10-2) Held up in touch, hit 7th, ridden 11th, weakened 4 out, 5th of 6, 21l behind Full House (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Apr.
Trust Fund (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Prominent, gradually lost place from 4th, towards rear when blundered badly and unseated rider at the 7th in race won by Hever Road (10-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Apr, 11 ran.
Tribal Venture (FR) 7-2 (10-12) In touch, headway and not fluent 8th, soon driven along, behind from 12th, 5th of 8, well behind Bosham Mill (10-5) at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jul.
Beauchamp Prince (IRE) 15-2 (10-13) Mistakes, held up, blundered badly 14th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Elvis Returns (10-13) at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in May, 10 ran.
Quazar (IRE) 5-1 (10-1) Held up, driven approaching 8th, lost place approaching 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Kings Brook (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Xellance (IRE) 12-1 (9-13) Held up, reminders 8th, headway 10th, ridden to chase leaders and mistake 3 out, weakened last, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Tighe Caster (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Sept.
