SANDOWN (10 Mar 2006)

Soft

3:15 Grand Military Gold Cup (Chase For Amateur Riders) (Sponsored By BAE Systems) (class 3) (6yo+)

[off 3:15] £7,495.20, £2,324.40, £1,161.60, £580.80 22 fences (3m110y) 3m½f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Inca Trail (IRE) P F Nicholls 10 12-2 b Mr J Snowden(3) 5/6F 139 107 113+

2 shd Happy Hussar (IRE) Dr P Pritchard 13 11-7 Mr J Sole(7) 100/1 90 102 105

3 10 Back Nine (IRE) R H Alner 9 11-11 t Major D Alers-Hankey(3) 9/4 120 94 98+

4 2½ Burwood Breeze (IRE) T R George 10 11-7 Capt T W C Edwards(7) 16/1 115 93 93

5 15 Heidi III (FR) M D Hammond 11 11-12 p Capt W B Ramsay(7) 33/1 108 83 89+

6 3½ Cedar Chief K Tork 9 11-7 b Lt H Wallace(7) 100/1 71 75 74

7 2 Snowy Ford (IRE) N J Gifford 9 11-12 p Capt A Michael(7) 25/1 117 78 77

8 1½ Blazing Batman Dr P Pritchard 13 11-7 Major G Wheeler(7) 100/1 70 72 71

9 8 Double Account (FR) D L Williams 11 11-7 v1 Major Beverley Tunley(7) 100/1 65 63

10 dist Mercato (FR) J R Best 10 11-7 Major H Norton(7) 20/1 98 37 —

11 shd Bang And Blame (IRE) M W Easterby 10 11-7 Maj G Thompson(7) 14/1 101 37 —

12 21 River Paradise (IRE) Jamie Broom 10 11-7 t L/Bdr C Haigh(7) 200/1 17 —

12 ran TIME 6m 35.80s (slow by 32.80s) TOTAL SP 113%

1st OWNER: Major A M J Shaw BRED: Ballysheehan Stud TRAINER: P F Nicholls

2nd OWNER: Private Ray Pritchard

3rd OWNER: R W Humphreys

TOTE WIN £1.90 PL £1.30, £12.70, £1.30; Ex £116.90; CSF £123.75

ANALYSIS: INCA TRAIL had much the best chance at the weights and came from well off the pace to repeat his recent Royal Artillery win, but the 90-rated Happy Hussar almost caused a major shock and the form can be taken with a pinch of salt.

The winner is notoriously quirky and needs holding up until the last possible moment. He was never going as well as had been the case at the last meeting, but having got to the eventual runner-up earlier than ideal Jamie Snowden had to hold on to him until after the last. The ten-year-old failed to quicken in the manner he had done last time and eventually his rider had to really go for him. Indeed there was next to nothing in it at the line.

Inca Trail now goes to Doncaster sales, where he will be sold with a National entry. He might take to Aintree, but will want better ground if he is to run well there.

Happy Hussar is an out-and-out stayer who excels at Exeter. He was given a fine ride and looked as if he might win when kicked 12 lengths clear on the long run to three out. He deserves some credit for a great effort, but hopefully the Handicapper won't take this too literally.

Back Nine, who was 9lb worse off with the winner compared to when second at the last meeting, raced in rear and was knocked back again when blundering badly at the second Railway fence, five out, just as he was starting to make some ground. That effectively put paid to his chance, though he stayed on for third.

SANDOWN (24 Feb 2006)

Soft

3:10 Royal Artillery Gold Cup Chase (class 3) (5yo+)

[off 3:10] £6,246.00, £1,937.00, £968.00, £484.00 22 fences (3m110y) 3m½f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Inca Trail (IRE) P F Nicholls 10 12-7 b Mr J Snowden(3) 11/8 139 71 123+

2 hd Back Nine (IRE) R H Alner 9 11-7 t Major D Alers-Hankey(3) 11/10F 120 57 109+

3 15 Mercato (FR) J R Best 10 11-12 Capt A Michael(7) 12/1 98 52 103

4 3 Lord Kilpatrick (IRE) Mrs H J Houghton 12 11-3 Capt T W C Edwards(7) 20/1 40 91

5 4 Cedar Chief K Tork 9 11-3 b Lt H Wallace(7) 40/1 71 37 87

6 shd Double Account (FR) Gareth Cheshire 11 11-7 Major Beverley Tunley(7) 25/1 41 91

7 dist River Paradise (IRE) Jamie Broom 10 11-3 L/Bdr C Haigh(7) 66/1 9 —

7 ran TIME 6m 47.20s (slow by 44.20s) TOTAL SP 109%

1st OWNER: Major A M J Shaw BRED: Ballysheehan Stud TRAINER: P F Nicholls

2nd OWNER: R W Humphreys

3rd OWNER: Colonel R J R Symonds

TOTE WIN £2.20 PL £1.30, £1.80; Ex £3.50; CSF £3.07

ANALYSIS: This looked a two-horse race on all known form, and so it proved.

It didn't really start to unfold properly until after the second-last, with the riders of INCA TRAIL and Back Nine content to bide their time behind Lord Kilpatrick, and it was only halfway up the run-in that Jamie Snowden at last gave the able but tricky Inca Trail the office. The ten-year-old responded well enough, although he wouldn't go more than half a length up. He needs producing as late as possible, and Snowden, who has a terrific record in this sort of race, had been told to keep taking a pull. The Grand Military Gold Cup is next on the agenda and Snowden did the double on stablemate Whitenzo last year. The winner is also entered for the Grand National with 10st 7lb, and he is 66-1 with Coral and VCbet.

Back Nine is a useful novice - third to Racing Demon at Exeter on his latest start. He ran really well, but although he quickened away from the rest he couldn't quite match Inca Trail for finishing speed. It is only a matter of time before he gets off the mark over fences.

Good To Soft

3:30 South-West Racing Club Novices' Chase (class 3) (5yo+)

[off 3:31] £7,807.20, £2,292.00, £1,146.00, £572.40 15 fences (2m3f110y) 2m3½f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Racing Demon (IRE) Miss H C Knight 6 11-12 T J Murphy 2/7F 134 162+

2 15 Cornish Sett (IRE) P F Nicholls 7 11-8 b Christian Williams 4/1 140 114 144+

3 19 Back Nine (IRE) R H Alner 9 11-2 A Thornton 20/1 120 88 122+

4 9 Mythical King (IRE) R Lee 9 11-2 T Doyle 40/1 78 107

5 7 Master Billyboy (IRE) Mrs S D Williams 8 11-2 W Hutchinson 100/1 102 70 102+

6 dist Lesdream J D Frost 9 11-2 James Davies 80/1 — —

UR La Source A Gold (IRE) Nick Williams 7 11-2 P Hide 150/1 — —

F Only Wallis (IRE) C L Tizzard 9 11-2 J Tizzard 100/1 — —

PU River Of Wishes C W Mitchell 8 10-9 S Curran 250/1 — —

UR Powra R J Hodges 6 10-9 James White(7) 250/1 — —

10 ran TIME 5m 0.00s (slow by 23.00s) TOTAL SP 109%

NON RUNNER: Madam Flora

1st OWNER: Mrs T P Radford BRED: Con O'Keeffe TRAINER: Miss H C Knight

2nd OWNER: Peter Hart

3rd OWNER: Old Moss Farm

TOTE WIN £1.30 PL £1.02, £1.40, £1.50; Ex £1.90; CSF £1.52

ANALYSIS: A novice chase that featured the long awaited return to action of the much vaunted RACING DEMON who had to win this convincingly to remain a leading fancy for the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham next month and win he did despite being in front from a long way out. Afterwards his trainer stated to have him up there had been the plan as it would have educated him and , apart from jumping to the right four out, he did little wrong and deserves his place at the head of the Arkle market. Judged on this performance he will be better suited by racing the other way round at Cheltenham and seems certain to put up a bold show.

Cornish Sett is no mug when in the mood but he was put in his place by the winner but there are other races to be won with him as he will not always bump into one as good.

Back Nine at least got round this time having fallen on his previous outing and he is probably going to be seen to better effect in handicap company in due course.