soon in rear, driven and outpaced after 3 out, headway on inside approaching 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, driven and kept on same pace run-in
took keen hold, tracked leaders on outside, led 3rd, hit 5th, narrowly headed 3 out, chased winner until pushed along well before next, weakening when mistake 2 out
took keen hold, held up in touch, headway tracking leaders 4 out, went 2nd well before 2 out, ridden and no impression before the last, rallied as winner idled badly and hung left run-in, strong challenge close home, just failed
raced keenly, tracked leaders, jumped slowly 1st, lost place 6th, behind and struggling when blundered badly 3 out, mistake next
tracked leaders, pushed along briefly after 4th, ridden in 3rd approaching 2 out, one pace and no impression when lost 3rd approaching the last
led until 3rd, chased leader until long run before 4 out, chased leaders, weakened 3 out, blundered last
raced wide, took keen hold, held up in touch, headway on outside chasing leaders approaching 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
tracked leader until 2nd, tracked leading pair, 2nd again on long run before 4 out, led narrowly 3 out, clear between last two, awkward last, idled badly and hung left run-in, just held on
TOPOFTHEGAME won a point-to-point at Belclare in March with the proverbial ton in hand. The second was placed in a Grade 2 hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday and it will be a surprise if the Paul Nicholls’ four-year-old isn’t primed for his own debut under Rules. Criq Rock was second to Thomas Campbell, who runs in the Grade 2 later on the card, here last month after a debut third over hurdles at Chepstow and should be winning soon. He holds Burst Ya Bubble on the form book. Tales Of The Tweed will almost certainly leave his bumper form behind now that there is some jumping involved and several of the others in an intriguing opener have already shown some ability.
Alpha Male (FR) 66-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 3rd of 11, 15 3/4l behind Reigning Supreme (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f (3) sft in Nov.
Burst Ya Bubble (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up in 4th, closer when not fluent 5th, awkward 3 out, soon outpaced, plugged on into modest 4th run-in, 4th of 8, 9 3/4l behind Thomas Campbell (11-5) at Ascot 2m (3) gs in Nov.
Criq Rock (FR) 11-4 (11-0) Held up in last pair, not fluent 2nd, headway chasing leaders appoaching 2 out, challenged in 2nd 2 out, every chance last, won battle for 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Thomas Campbell (11-5) at Ascot 2m (3) gs in Nov.
Kings Walk (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leader, led 12f out until over 5f out, chased leader until 5f out, weakened over 3f out, 8th of 17, 29 3/4l behind Mere Ironmonger (10-10) at Kempton 2m mdn (5) gd in Mar.
Lovenormoney (IRE) 10-1 (12-1) Ld/disp, disp 1/2way, close 2nd 2out, wo aft 2out, sn drew clear, easily, won at Quakerstown 3m sft in Mar beating Kaiser Black (12-1) by 15l, 8 ran.
Somewhere To Be (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Led to 4th, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 13, 16 3/4l behind Jenkins (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn (3) sft in Nov.
Tales Of The Tweed (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Held up in touch, pushed along chasing leaders over 3f out, ridden and went 2nd over 1f out, no impression and dropped to 3rd entering final furlong, 3rd of 10, 7 1/4l behind King Of Realms (11-0) at Ascot 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Topofthegame (IRE) 7-4 (11-10) Made all, 2l adv 1/2way, qcknd clr and going best from 2out, kow, impressive, won at Belclare 3m mdn sft in Mar beating No Hassle Hoff (11-10) by 9l, 6 ran.
Lagavara (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Held up, pecked 1st, jumped slowly 4th, headway when not fluent 2 out, went 3rd flat, stayed on, unable to get on terms, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Poppy Kay (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m (4) sft in Nov.
