Held up in touch, headway to go prominent, ridden after 4 out, soon beaten
led until 8th, behind from 13th, tailed off
prominent, lost place from 7th, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up in touch, headway approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in touch, headway after 4 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, led 8th, headed 11th, led 3 out, ridden and headed, every chance last, kept on
prominent, led 11th, headed approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened
held up in touch, headway approaching 4 out, challenged 3 out, led after 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well
It may not be an original selection but La Landier is very hard to ignore - even though this is a high-class renewal of the Cathcart Chase. Richard Phillips' mare has improved with each outing over fences and will be difficult to master as she receives plenty of weight from her rivals. However, her form is no secret and that is sure to be reflected in the prices. Le Coudray is an obvious alternative and is taken to give the selection the most to do. He was an unlucky faller in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month and any hint of an each-way bet to nothing at 5/1 should be taken. The ultra-tough Tarxien looks to be the pick of the Martin Pipe-trained pair but he has endured some hard races this term and is opposable for that reason today. Barton has looked to be a shade of his former self and it would only be dangerous to allow sentiment to creep in on his return to Cheltenham.
