in touch, went 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, ridden clear flat, comfortably
mid-division, outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened
raced keenly, held up behind, outpaced halfway, never dangerous
mid-division, chased leaders after 4 out, soon ridden and no impression, weakened from next
chased leaders to 3rd, soon behind
in touch, lost place 4 out, weakening when fell next
tracked leader, lost place 4 out, weakened before next
led, mistake 3 out, blundered and headed next, soon ridden, one pace and no impression when mistake last
held up mid-division, headway to track leaders after 4 out, outpaced when jumped left from next, soon weakened
held up in rear, weakening when mistake 4 out, tailed off
held up, short lived effort after 4 out, soon weakened, behind when blundered 2 out
Despite the excellent run of form for Sir Tantallus Hawk we opt for THUMBS UP who is potentially a class above while Alderbridge should also be involved in the shake up. The selection was pretty decent on the level before putting in a fine debut over timber last time. That day he was beaten 10 lengths by Ski Sunday, who finished runner-up in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham this week and a further four lengths behind a promising David Pipe runner. There's nothing matching the quality of either of those in this field so a repeat will be more than enough. Alan Swinbank's Sir Tantallus Hawk was an easy winner of a weak novice hurdle last time making it back to back victories. It could be his rating is a little low and without the selection would the likely winner. Alderbrige pulled up on unsuitable testing ground last time and a return to this livelier surface should bring out a return to the form which saw him find just one two good on his penultimate start. Leo's Quest was solid enough on hurdles debut last time but would have to improve vastly to challenge the selection Thumbs Up.
Sir Tantallus Hawk 1-2fav (11-8) Always handy, smooth headway to lead after last, driven clear flat, won at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) sft beating Nonotreally (10-10) by 10l, 10 ran.
Alderbridge (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up, pushed along after 4th, no chance 6th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Fiendish Flame (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 10 ran.
Authentic Act (IRE) (8-9) 8th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Avanti Albert (8-7) at Baden-Baden 1m hcp gd in Sept '07 (Flat).
For A Dancer (IRE) Unfuwain gelding out of Another Dancer.
Leo's Quest 14-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden and chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened from approaching last, 4th of 9, 11l behind Singing Wizard (11-1) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Ravensbill (IRE) 200-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden and weakened from over 5f out, last of 13, well behind Merrydown (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (5) gd in Feb '08.
Solway Blue 33-1 (10-5) Held up, slightly hampered 6th, behind when went right 2 out, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Osprey View (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jul '07.
What A Cliche 200-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off, 12th of 18, well behind Fushe Jo (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Apartman (CZE) Scater gelding out of Apartma.
Legion D'honneur (UAE) 8-1 (9-9) Made all, joined 4f out, ridden over 2f out, driven clear final furlong, won at Hamilton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) gf in May beating Princess Lomi (9-6) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran (Flat).
Recoil (IRE) 200-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, weakened after 4 out, 7th of 10, 25l behind Caravel (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m nov hdl (4) gf.
World of Choice (USA) 7-4fav (11-4) Raced wide mid-division, improved to 3rd 4f out, chased leader over 2f out, soon led and clear, pushed out, won at Southwell 1m 3f amt hcp (6) fbs in Feb beating Cragganmore Creek (10-10) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran (Flat).
Thumbs Up 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders and keen, led approaching 4th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Ski Sunday (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (5) sft in Feb.
