held up and behind, headway 5th, outpaced when hit 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
led to 2nd, chased leaders, mistake 5th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
always behind, reminders 3rd, tailed off when pulled up before last
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
in touch, tracked leader 2nd, disputed lead 5th, led 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, 8 lengths 4th when fell last
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, no extra approaching last
tracked leader, led 2nd, headed 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division, headway 5th, chased leader 3 out, led next, soon ridden, stayed on well
chased leaders, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out
A solid vote in the opener goes to Top Style, with his biggest dangers given as Snails Castle and Lady Past Times. The selection stands out here. He had not raced over hurdles for over a year before scoring at Sedgefield last time, but had won on the Flat in the interim. A repeat of his Sedgefield run gives him very solid claims today. Snails Castle's third to Lady Stratagem stands up to scrutiny in the context of this race, but Danny Leahy, who has shown little over hurdles but displayed some promise on the Flat, is hard to fancy but connections are trying a tongue-tie on him today. Much as Captain's Leap has failed to reproduce his 2001 bumper form over hurdles, this is, on the face of it, a modest contest, so he might bag a place. Lady Past Times seems to have regressed since finishing third to Faasel on her debut, but certainly has claims based on that effort, while Casas showed some improvement last time, but that came in a seller. Overall, then, in what is, as we say, modest fayre to start the day, we will side with Top Style.
Top Style (IRE) 15-8fav In touch, headway approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) sft in Feb beating Killing Me Softly by 4l, 10 ran.
Captain's Leap (IRE) 33-1 Led to 4th, chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 13, 24l behind Dont Call Me Derek at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (E) sft in Feb.
Danny Leahy (FR) 100-1 Mid-division, mistake 3rd, lost place 5th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Aldiruos at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Snails Castle (IRE) 8-1 Always behind, 6th of 7, well behind The Joker at Hexham 2m 4f nov hdl (E) frm in Sept '03.
Black Chalk (IRE) 50-1 Prominent early, weakened halfway, completely tailed off, 11th of 27, well behind Dizzy's Dream at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hdl hvy in Jan '04.
Casas (IRE) 20-1 Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 10, 18l behind Barton Beau at Towcester 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) sft in Feb.
Roses Are Wild (IRE) 66-1 Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten, 6th of 15, well behind Pebble Bay at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gs.
Lady Past Times 16-1 In touch, behind from 5th, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 22l behind Clouding Over at Catterick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gs.
Nifty Roy 40-1 Always towards rear, weakened approaching 3 out, 3rd of 8, 35l behind Native Coral at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (E) hvy in Feb.
Fairwood Nickle (IRE) 100-1 Chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 18, well behind Jorobaden at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft in Feb.
