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A first run over hurdles for The Way You Dance having missed several previous entries due to the prevailing soft ground.

It was a fairly late decision to run and midweek which meant that several of the group were unable to attend.  Paul Mitchell traveled down from Harrogate by train and Gerald Sand made the journey north from Cheltenham.  Phil & Sarah Boyle were joined by Peter Leonard for the drive up from Surrey.

The ground was declared as good with good to soft patches and whilst some rain on the drive across from Surrey was a concern, on arrival it was found that the weather at the course had been considerably better.

Neil Mulholland arrived mid afternoon and the owners and trainers bar analysis suggested that The Way You Dance had some kind of chance as he would not have to be rated ridiculously high to be competitive.  Un-fancied in the market, the price drifted enough for both Phil and Paul to consider that he was starting to look good value.

In the paddock, The Way You Dance looked the pick of the runners and whilst not confident, we were hopeful.  The race got underway very slowly and TWYD fluffed his lines somewhat at the first two hurdles, whilst not settling well.  As the horses turned down the back though  the pace increased and TWYD’s hurdling improved markedly.  Although he dropped steadily through the field, he was always on the bridle and on the turn for home, the moved smoothly around the outside of the field to come upsides the leaders.

For a moment those of us waiting by the winning post started to feel like he was going to do something special, but as everything quickened, The Way You Dance flattened out and started to steadily fall away.  A mistake at the last cost him 5th place and he came hoem 6th.

Dennis O’Regan reported that TWYD had stayed very well but did not quicken when the others set sail for home.  Both Dennis and Neil felt that the race was very encouraging and they were very pleased with the way that our lad ran.

It was a shame that he did not finish nearer, but all in all the trainer and jockey were very encouraged by his run. Dennis felt that the horse hurdled much better once the speed increased, although he did make a mistake at the last without which would have finished much nearer.