took keen hold, held up until pulled way into lead 5th, blundered and fell next
took keen hold, went 2nd 8th, upsides and mistake 2 out, led approaching last, driven out
tracked leaders, left 2nd at 6th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, still upsides 2 out, kept on at one pace flat
led until 5th, left in lead next, joined 2 out, headed approaching last, weakened
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, rallied well under pressure flat
held up in rear, promising headway on wide outside approaching 2 out, soon ridden and found nil
To The Top may never reach any dizzy heights, but can prove up to the task here, with Rustic John, Asthefellowsaid, Jewel Song and Carpet Ride all in with a sqeak in a race of this nature. To The Top let his supporters down when pulled up at Leicester last time, but there was a valid reason as he was badly hampered three out. Prior to that, Alan Hill's charge was surprisingly beaten when odds-on here in May last year, and as his latest outing was his first under rules since then, hopefully he will now make amends under regular pilot James Tudor. Rustic John lines up on the back of an encouraging second between the flags 18-days ago, and makes slightly more appeal than Asthefellowsaid who did not look back to his best when folding tamely at Higham earlier this month. Jewel Song will be all the better for his decent second at Barbury Castle in January and Carpet Ride is the least exposed, so has to merit a mention at least. The big factor with To The Top is the ground, but if he does cope with the testing conditions, he has the form to come out on top.
Another Gale (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Mid-division, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 3 out pulled up 3 out in race won by Ursumman (11-2) at Punchestown 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-109 gd in Jun, 21 ran.
Asthefellowsaid (IRE) 2-1fav (12-5) Progress 10th, wknd rapidly aft 15th, 4th of 9, 32l behind The Granby (12-5) at Higham 3m ptp gd.
Glory Trail (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) A behind; tailed off, 10th of 15, 38l behind Bell Rock (11-0) at Cottenham 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Jewel Song 50-1 (12-0) Held up; headway 12th, every chance app 2 out; soon wknd, 2nd of 14, 20l behind Lord Payne (12-0) at Barbury Castle 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Rustic John 5-1 (12-0) Soon prominent; led 8th-12th; chased winner 15th; wknd 2 out, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Rum Cake (12-0) at Larkhill 3m ptp gd.
To The Top 9-2 (11-11) With leaders, jumped slowly 6th, pushed along when badly hampered 7th, lost any chance, tailed of and pulled up 3 out in race won by Chita's Flight (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hts chs (5) sft, 9 ran.
Carpet Ride 50-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 10th, chased winner 11th, no extra, 3rd of 11, 22l behind Le Passing (12-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hts chs (6) gs.
