held up mid-division, pushed along 6th, weakened after 4 out
held up, smooth headway 7th, led after 4 out, not fluent last, headed towards finish
tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced after 4 out, ridden next, led towards finish, driven out
mid-division, hit 5 out, weakened from next, pulled up before 2 out
always behind and mistakes, struggling from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
mid-division, weakened approaching 4 out
held up towards rear, struggling approaching 7th
chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
with leader, led after 2nd, hit 5 out, ridden and headed after 4 out, one pace from next
held up, headway approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out
always behind, struggling from 6th, pulled up before 8th
led until after 2nd, tracked leader until lost place 7th, tailed off when pulled up before last
always behind and mistakes, tailed off 5 out, pulled up 3 out
Ballyshan, Kitty Storm, and Original Thought are all fancied in the opening novice hurdle but our selection is Kitty Storm. The Martin Pipe-trained seven-year-old was an easy winner of a soft ground, Chepstow handicap hurdle and he can run a big race again with AP McCoy in the saddle. The Pipe stable has been under a cloud recently but they had a winner on Wednesday and Kitty Storm can prove too strong for his rivals. Ballyshan is reunited with Carl Llewellyn who was on board when the gelding won a soft- ground Chepstow maiden hurdle in January. He looks to have bags of stamina but it is possible that he will not be suited by the drying ground. Original Thought gets weight from his rivals and may well have won a fast ground, Newbury novice hurdle had he not clouted the second-last flight. He was only a neck behind Smart Mover that day and he represents the main danger to our selection, Kitty Storm.
Ballyshan (IRE) 8-13fav (11-11) Led, quickened pace 6th, not fluent 8th, ridden after 3 out, headed after next, one pace when hit last, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Atlantic Jane (11-4) at Market Rasen 3m mdn hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Kilty Storm (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Held up, headway 5th, led on bit approaching 3 out, soon clear, very easily, won at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Feb beating Keepers Mead (11-7) by 12l, 10 ran.
Calusa Charlie (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led 6th, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 13, 14l behind Presumptuous (10-11) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Feb.
Considine (USA) 200-1 (7-12) Held up in touch, weakening when hampered over 5f out, 24th of 34, 33l behind Sergeant Cecil (9-8) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct (Flat).
Fine Enough (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Chased winner, reminders after 5th, well behind from 7th, last of 7, well behind Soleil Fix (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (E) sft in Nov.
Five Alley (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Led until 3rd, stayed prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Before Dark (11-9) at Exeter 3m nov hdl (4) hvy.
Lyster (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Chased leaders in 4th, driven and weakened soon after 4 out, 8th of 11, well behind Orange Street (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Offemont (FR) 33-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden 4 out, weakening when blundered next, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Cornish Sett (11-5) at Newbury 2m 1f beg chs (D) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
Original Thought (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (11-3) Prominent, led after 2nd and made most until mistake 2 out, quickly regained lead, soon strongly pressed, headed final 100 yards, stayed on, 2nd of 9, nk behind Smart Mover (11-3) at Newbury 3m nh nov hdl (3) gf.
Sir Bathwick (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Not fluent, behind, struggling before 6th, no chance after, 5th of 11, 39l behind Orange Street (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
The Piker (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Not jump well, blundered, rider lost irons 1st, always behind, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Manners (11-0) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Mrs Fizziwig 28-1 (10-3) Prominent, led 4th to 7th, 4th and weakening when fell 3 out in race won by Colline de Fleurs (10-10) at Towcester 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy, 9 ran.
Trip To The Stars (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Always in rear, never a factor, 15th of 18, 45l behind Saraba (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gd.
Secured (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Always prominent, led after 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gf in Jan beating Adventurist (10-12) by a shd, 15 ran.
