chased leaders, challenged when not fluent 3 out, soon led, headed after 2 out, no impression on winner last, stayed on same pace
towards rear, struggling 4th, jumped left and lost touch next, tailed off
mid-division, headway after 3 out, led going well after 2 out, in command last, easily came clear
held up in rear, headway 3 out, ridden after next, no impression approaching last, one pace
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, went 7th after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear on outside, ridden and struggling after 3 out
in touch, went 2nd briefly well before 2 out, soon ridden and unable to quicken, stayed on same pace approaching last, went 3rd flat
mid-division, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, headway 5th, went 2nd briefly before 2 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last
not jump well, led until 5th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, not flunt 2nd or 3rd, mistake 5th, well beaten after 3 out, pulled up before last
chased leader until after 3rd, lost place before 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leader, not fluent 2nd, went 2nd after next, led and not fluent 5th, headed after 3 out, weakening when hit 2 out
Nonrunner
Forest Rhythm ran his best race over hurdles for Seamus Mullins when chasing home Regional Counsel here last month and he has solid claims racing off the same mark today but it may be worth siding with David Pipe's CASUAL STYLE, who is preferred to stable companion Loom. The latter won well enough at Uttoxeter two starts ago on soft ground over just short of three miles but disappointed off his new mark over slightly shorter at Chepstow most recently and he may not be suited by being dropped to the minimum trip today. Hot Choc looked beaten before falling here last time and of more interest may be Alison Thorpe's Rowan River, who is relatively lightly raced over hurdles and comes form a yard in good form. It will be interesting to see how Mista Rossa and Royal Prodigy get on following breaks of close to three months and both have to be considered but a better bet looks to be Casual Style. David Pipe's filly has shown enough in novice and maiden hurdles to suggest that she could be well treated for her handicap debut and she looks worth chancing.
Petito (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Tracked leading trio, went 3rd after 5th until after next, weakened soon after, 5th of 7, 30l behind Olympian (11-2) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Apr.
Loom (GER) 9-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway after 6th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 10, well behind Timetoring (10-5) at Chepstow 2m 4f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) hvy in Nov.
Forest Rhythm (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear and keen, headway approaching 2 out, in 3rd and ridden approaching last, kept on well to take 2nd towards finish, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Regional Counsel (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Apr.
Casual Style 7-1 (10-2) Held up, mistake 1st, headway approaching 3 out, weakened last, 6th of 12, 21l behind Master Fong (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Apr.
Slam 33-1 (11-0) Behind headway 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 16, 17l behind Tzora (11-0) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Mista Rossa 9-1 (11-8) Mid-division, took keen hold, hit 3rd, behind 5th, 10th of 14, 43l behind Miss Mamma Wagga (10-5) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Apr.
Looks The Business (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, prominent, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 46l behind Nicki Boy (10-10) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f clm hdl (5) gd in Aug '08.
Rowan River 6-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, 14l behind Home She Goes (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m mares nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Hot Choc (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Tended to jump right and not always fluent, led, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened into modest 6th when fell last, in a race won by Cat Six (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Doric Echo 250-1 (10-7) Always behind, 14th of 17, well behind Nice One Eric (11-0) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Toi Express (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Led, jumped right 6th, headed 12th, held by winner when left 2nd 2 out, soon weakened, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 7, 33l behind Chapel Flowers (11-11) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gf in Oct.
Honeycombe 150-1 (10-0) Always behind, 14th of 17, 32l behind Exulto (11-5) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Apr.
Royal Prodigy (USA) 25-1 (10-1) Always behind, 8th of 17, 18l behind Exulto (11-5) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Apr.
