tracked leader, left in lead 3rd, not fluent 8th, soon headed, fell next
led until ran out 3rd
tracked leaders, left 2nd at 3rd, led after 8th, left to race alone next
soon tailed off, refused 3rd
stumbled and unseated rider 1st
CATCH THE STARS seem to have plenty going for him here, and can land this at the expense of Raysrock and Quillan Hill. The drop back in trip and firmer ground are both positives for Evan Williams' mare, who's a former Irish point winner. She's well in at the weights here too. Raysrock won a couple of races in testing conditions last year over hurdles, and this is just his fourth outing over the bigger fences, but he looks like he's got improvement within him. Quillan Hill is also a former winner over hurdles, but his jumping over fences is open to improvement. The better the ground becomes, the better he's likely to perform. There have been question marks too over the jumping of Padalko, while Stage Right is having his first run for Simon Lewis having returned here after several years in Ireland, where he found mixed success, but none recently. It's a trappy little heat, with our marginal preference being for Catch The Stars.
Padalko (FR) 11-1 (10-11) Mid-division when fell 5 out in race won by Apatura Dik (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f mdn chs (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Quillan Hill 20-1 (11-0) In touch, chased leader 4 out, lost place when hit 2 out, no extra approaching last, 4th of 16, 15l behind Sa Suffit (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs in Jan.
Raysrock (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, effort 7th, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 10, 16l behind Pret A Thou (11-0) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs (4) sft in Feb.
Stage Right 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, 9th 3 out, ridden and no impression entering straight, 10th of 25, well behind Drumconvis (10-11) at Naas 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-102 sft in Feb '08.
Catch The Stars (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, chased winner from 5 out, held last, 2nd of 4, 7l behind Phardessa (11-1) at Chepstow 3m mrs nov chs (4) sft in Feb.
