led, stumbled and unseated rider 4th
towards rear, ridden from 4 out, plugged on, never dangerous
mid-division, headway to track leading pair 4 out, led last, ridden out
towards rear, ridden 4 out, soon held
tracked leaders and keen, jumped right 2nd, weakened 7th
held up in touch, slightly hampered 4th, joined leader 7th, led approaching next, hard ridden and headed last
tracked leader, left in lead 4th, headed approaching 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
hampered and unseated rider 1st
UPHAM ATOM can draw from his experience of the hurdles track at Towcester as he bids to put Irish raider Baron Breeze in his place. Devon Native is open to improvement and is worth considering for one of the places, while Come Out Fighting ran well last time out and can play a strong part if his jumping holds together. The last named does have a poor completion record though. Devon Native made steady progress in bumpers and holds some knowledge of how exacting this course can be on stamina. He makes his hurdles debut at a realistic level and this stoutly-bred gelding is one of the more interesting candidates. Baron Breeze will be popular on a number of levels - not least for the jockey booking of Tony McCoy. His form in Ireland sets the standard and he is likely to be a tough nut to crack. However, at the likely cramped odds, he is an all-or-nothing bet and there may be better value elsewhere - with Upham Atom appealing as a punters' choice to strike a blow for the underdog. Being by a champion stayer (Silver Patriarch) out of a Bustino mare, this fellow will not be found wanting for stamina and, having handled the course well a fortnight ago, is a worthy option to grind out a result over this more appropriate trip.
Baron Breeze (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 6th 2 out, stayed on to moderate 4th last, kept on same pace, 4th of 20, 6l behind Paradis de Thaix (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 4f 6yo mdn hdl hvy in Feb.
Billy Smith (12-0) Bhnd when pu 11, in a race won by Apple Days (11-7) at Brafield-on-the-green 3m ptp in Mar, 5 ran.
Come Out Firing (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, riddne to lead after 3 out, blundered next, headed soon after, kept on same pace, blundered last, 2nd of 11, 13l behind Theophrastus (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Imstilldreaming (IRE) 150-1 (11-0) Not fluent, led, headed approaching 4th, weakened 8th, tailed off when mistake 3 out, 10th of 11, well behind Midnight Sail (11-6) at Stratford 2m 6f nov hdl (3) gd in Apr.
Little Lord West (IRE) 28-1 (10-11) Chased winner until 6f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 10, 36l behind Titus Andronicus (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Right Option (IRE) 40-1 (10-6) In touch, lost place 3 out, mistake 2 out, 14th of 17, 34l behind Culcabock (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Upham Atom 12-1 (10-12) Prominent, pushed along after 5th, ridden for 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Wolf Moon (10-12) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Simplyirresistible (IRE) 250-1 (9-12) In last pair, lost touch from 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Wolf Moon (10-12) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
Moderano (CZE) 3-1 (11-0) Prog 10; ev ch last; nt qckn, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Pingaro De La Vire (12-0) at Charing 2m 4f ptp in Feb.
Devon Native (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) In touch, raced keenly, pushed along over 5f out, stayed on to take 2nd entering in final furlong, no impression on winner, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Jenny's Gold (10-7) at Towcester 2m N H flat (5) gs in Apr.
Leader Blue (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Jumped slowly 2nd, always towards rear, no chance after 7th, 8th of 13, well behind Daurica (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
