SANDOWN PARK 14:25 4b4071

All 7 ran. Hurdles: 8. Race Distance Adjustment: +10 yds

Time: 4m 6.2s Closing Sectional: (6.05f): 91.8s (101.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 115%, Betfair SP 100.3%

The manner in which the first 2 - and in particular the winner - spreadeagled a field containing several other promising sorts that had been well bunched turning for home marks this down as a good renewal of the Tolworth, backed up by the time, and provided some much-needed clarity in the British novice hurdling division, the level of form not dissimilar to subsequent Cheltenham Festival winners Yorkhill and Summerville Boy in recent years.

FIDDLERONTHEROOF (IRE) represented 2 of the strongest pieces of pre-Christmas British novice hurdling form but is still improving in leaps and bounds all of a sudden, confirming himself one of the best in the division this side of the Irish Sea, slightly more flash than his Chepstow conqueror Thyme Hill, while his strength in the betting prior to this assignment was almost as taking as his performance; chased leaders, travelled well, went prominent 3 out, led early in straight, drew clear between last 2, in command last, stayed on well without Power having to pick up his whip at all; he has the option of either the Supreme or the Baring Bingham at Cheltenham - unlikely he'll be seen before then - and he'd be a leading player in either, still open to further improvement.

JEREMYS FLAME (IRE) whose Newbury run looks the strongest piece of mares novice form in Britain or Ireland so far this season, took a step forward from that taking on the geldings, not looking out of place at all in this grade and seen off only by a very good one; patiently ridden, travelled better than most, good progress out wide before 2 out, left behind by winner between last 2, not fluent last (had jumped accurately up to then), ran on, pulled clear of remainder; this puts her right in the picture for the Dawn Run at Cheltenham, while also paying a further compliment to her Newbury conqueror Floressa.

SON OF CAMAS (FR) unproven on the ground, didn't look as comfortable on it as he had done on good at Newbury for both his bumper and maiden hurdle success, not travelling with the same fluency, ittedly in a much better race; tracked pace, not fluent first, lost ground 3 out, threatened again before next, not fluent there, one paced and no match for principals; he remains capable of better, particularly back on a less testing surface.

CALVA D'AUGE (FR) had his limitations exposed in Grade 1 company; pressed leader, not clear run early in straight, not quicken 2 out; this underlined that he's worth another try at further.

HANG IN THERE (IRE) held strong claims on his win at Cheltenham but proved to be a major disappointment after 6 weeks off, not on his game for whatever reason, an early error as much a symptom as it was a contributing factor; led, bad mistake second, brushed aside before 2 out, faltered.

LOGAN ROCKS (IRE) in first-time cheekpieces, was out of his depth, soon dropping away in the straight; soon steadied, not fluent fifth, effort entering straight, left behind before 2 out.

SILVER HALLMARK upped markedly in grade after 8 weeks off, clearly wasn't 100% on the day; mid-division, shaken up leaving back straight, lost touch quickly early in straight, eased off; there's not much wrong with his hurdling debut success and he remains open to improvement.