slowly into stride, behind until some headway approaching 8th, soon ridden, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, ridden 6th, soon weakened
headway 7th, ridden to lead 3 out, clear with winner and every chance 2 out, hard ridden and headed flat
held up towards rear, steady headway 7th, ridden 3 out, no impression
tracked leaders until ridden and weakened after 8th, pulled up before 3 out
held up and keen towards rear, headway 7th, going well 3 out, driven to chase leader 2 out, ridden to lead flat
held up in rear, ridden and stayed on from 4 out, no further headway
led, headed approaching 8th, kept on one pace
in touch, ridden and weakened after 8th
tracked leaders, led 7th, headed after 8th, ridden and weakened quickly
held up, headway 7th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
mistake 5th, soon behind, pulled up after next
chased leader from 7th, ridden and weakened from 3 out
tracked leaders until ridden and weakened from 7th
in touch until ridden and kept on one pace from 4 out
towards rear, tailed off after 4 out, pulled up before next
driven from halfway, soon weakened, tailed off after 4 out
It is impossible to oppose Inca Trail in this ordinary maiden hurdle. Henrietta Knight's seven-year-old was just six lengths adrift of Rhinestone Cowboy at Cheltenham in November and even closer to the highly regarded Lord Sam on his hurdling debut at Sandown last time. The fact that the latter run also proved he can handle soft ground is another plus in the column and he is a very confident selection to open his account. Of the remainder, Jonjo O'Neill saddles the pair Dynamic Lifter and Personal Assurance. The former is owned by J P McManus and is therefore likely to be no mug, though he has been beaten a total of 81 lengths in two starts so far. He is by Be My Native, so should appreciate the cut in the ground, but still has plenty to prove. Any market move would be interesting. The same market principle applies to Personal Assurance, whohas been placed in all three of his bumper outings so far, including two on good to soft. He is sure to have been well schooled, on the face of it is the yard's first string and can go well. Brereton handled soft ground when second in a bumper on debut at Warwick just over a year ago, but has been beaten a total of 69 lengths in three runs since. Another Be My Native gelding, and from a yard bang in form, he could improve plenty, though he will need to in order to trouble the selection. Finally, Annie Byers ran well with cut at Sandown in a debut bumper, but was then well beaten at Wetherby last time. She makes her hurdling debut here and if she jumps well she too could make the frame.
