held up in 4th place, closer in 3rd after 3 out, went 2nd between last 2, edged left and stayed on same pace run-in
chased leader, led going well approaching 2 out, clear when not fluent last, ridden out
led until headed approaching 2 out, lost 2nd between last 2, plugging on same pace in 3rd
off the pace in 5th, ridden and weakened before 2 out, went modest 4th approaching the last
chased leading pair until pushed along after 3 out, weakened next, weakened and lost modest 4th approaching the last
awkward 2nd, well behind, lost touch 4th, tailed off
keen early, well behind in last pair, lost touch 4th, tailed off
BRIARDALE, six times a winner on the Flat, showed the benefit of his hurdling debut with a much better effort at Catterick on New Year's Day and can go one better. Let The Heirs Walk had some decent form in Ireland and has joined Tim Vaughan so is an obvious danger as is Rostello, though the latter was a disappointing favourite here last month and his best form in France was over fences. Quoteline Direct, five times a winner on the level, has shown enough in two starts over timber to suggest Micky Hammond will find a race for him.
Briardale (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) In touch, dropped to mid-division 4th, headway under pressure before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 11, 3 1/4l behind The Dancing Poet (10-4) at Catterick 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Let The Heirs Walk (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led, joined before 4th, soon headed, remained prominent, slight mistake 5th, slight mistake 3 out, kept on same pace from before last, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Shumaker (10-8) at Punchestown 2m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Quoteline Direct 7-2 (11-2) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, led after 3rd, soon clear, reduced advantage before 2 out, headed between last 2, ridden and weakened flat, 4th of 11, 8 1/2l behind The Dancing Poet (10-4) at Catterick 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Road To Reward (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Rcd in mid-div, 6th 1/2way, still in tch 3out, ko onepce 2out, no ex where fell last, at Mainstown 3m mdn sft in Dec.
Rostello (FR) Evensfav (11-6) Chased leader, challenged after 3 out, every chance next, ridden and lost 2nd before the last 2, weakened into 4th run-in, 4th of 8, 11l behind Red Reminder (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
The Gingerbreadman 20-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, headway on outside over 5f out, lost place over 2f out, 8th of 9, 18 1/4l behind Charlie Arthur (9-9) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Simul Amicis 150-1 (10-0) Behind, beaten 4 out, tailed off, 12th of 14, dist behind Coconut Splash (11-5) at Wetherby 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
