pressed leader until went badly left 5th, bumped, saddle slipped and nearly unseated rider, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, pushed along before 5th, ridden and struggling next, soon lost touch, tailed off
held up towards rear, left prominent 5th, chased leader approaching 3 out, ridden to challenge last, led flat stayed on
chased leaders, left in lead 5th, ridden clear after 3 out, headed flat, held near finish
held up in rear, pushed a long 6th, headway before next, weakened after 3 out
not fluent, chased leaders, hampered 5th, went 2nd 6th until approaching 3 out, soon weakened, blundered badly last
chased leaders until hampered and fell 5th
led, took keen hold, tried to run out and unseated rider 5th
in rear, headway 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
ALANNA CASTLE won a bumper at Exeter last time out and is thought good enough to win over hurdles first time of asking at the expense of Restless Harry and Cailin Na Ri. The selection has the services of Tony McCoy to steer him home on his hurdles debut. He won well enough on his second bumper run at Exeter and will have been well schooled at home by trainer Evan Williams. With a clear round he will have to go close. Restless Harry won a point to point before catching the eye on his first run under rules when finishing second to Bulwark over course and distance last time out. He clearly has ability and should be noted in the market for any support. Cailin Na Ri ran a personal best when finishing second at Newton Abbot last time out. That was his first run since the autumn and as he is only lightly raced he is open to further improvement so he warrants plenty of respect. This is one of the better races on the card and Alanna Castle looks to have a bright future and is given the vote to win on his hurdles bow.
Alanna Castle (IRE) 4-9fav (11-4) Tracked leader, led over 3f out, kept on, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf beating Blazing Empress (10-4) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Billy Smith 150-1 (10-7) Mid-division, struggling after 6th, lost touch from next, 7th of 14, 37l behind Bulwark (10-9) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd.
Come West (IRE) 80-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, not fluent 3 out, weakening when jumped left 2 out, 5th of 13, 16l behind Erzen (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Converti 50-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Bulwark (10-9) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd.
General Simara 125-1 (11-0) Ridden and struggling from 4th, 7th of 10, well behind China Gold (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Planetarium 7-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, lost touch 6th, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Erzen (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Cailin Na Ri (IRE) 80-1 (10-0) Soon tracking leaders, every chance after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on, held from next, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Quell The Storm (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f NH mdn hdl (4) gf.
Miss Carroll 16-1 (10-10) Towards rear, hit 2nd, headway on inside 4 out, ridden 3 out, soon held, 8th of 14, 46l behind Tootsie Too (10-7) at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Simplyirresistible (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Raced keenly, soon prominent, chased leader after 2nd until 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, last of 6, 47l behind Horseford Hill (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Restless Harry 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, jumped big and slow 2nd, headway after 7th, mistake 3 out, chased winner after 2 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Bulwark (10-9) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd.
Trempari 9-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway 9f out, ridden 5f out, weakened 4f out, 5th of 10, 16l behind The Panama Kid (10-11) at Southwell 2m NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
