held up in mid-division, mistake 4th, behind from next
held up, in touch and under pressure when mistake 2 out and weakened
chased leaders 3 out, weakened under pressure before last
chased leader, mistake 5th, blundered and weakened 3 out
headway from 5th, stayed on under pressure, chased leading pair before last, stayed on same pace run in
held up in mid-division, headway to track leaders 4th, led 2 out, driven and ran on well run in
chased leaders until hit 2 out and weakened
stayed on under pressure after 3 out, never dangerous
chased leaders until weakened 3 out
chased leaders until ridden and weakened 3 out
held up in rear, headway 5th, chased winner going well after 2 out, ridden to challenge last
in touch until weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, steady headway under pressure until 3 out, hit 2 out and weakened
led, mistake 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened quickly
Rooftop Protest was an impressive winner on his return to hurdling at Limerick last month and is taken to follow up at the main expense of Kjetil, and Kelly. The last mentioned represents the stable of Venetia Williams that has a fine record at this meeting over the years and looks fairly treated for his debut in a handicap. Top weight Ball O Malt ran well on his return at Kelso last month but would probably prefer further, while Jonjo O'Neill's Seeyaaj is more exposed than most of these. Anything that Martin Pipe runs here has to be respected so Over The Creek cannot be discounted along with Noel Chance's Gaelic Flight, who has a progressive profile and should be ideally suited by both trip and ground. The Paul Nicholls-trained Kjetil did not achieve as much as was expected last term and may do better this season. He is interesting on his debut in a handicap and makes more appeal than Pease Blossom, a winner at Galway when last seen over hurdles in July but recently freshened up by a run on the flat. The vote though goes to another Irish raider Rooftop Protest. The seven-year-old has improved on the flat this year and carried that over with an effortless success at Limerick. He is taken to defy the rise in the weights.
