Just thought i would post back to let you guys know the solutions to this problem as i have now resolved this problem.
The method i have used is to put the drop down menu in a seperate DIV layer he tpl_index_product_list template file in the template's folder i then added a javascript to hide this div layer based on mouse over and then mouse up to show the layer, the best code i have found i below hope this helps all the other people who have been pulling there hair out with this little problem.
Javascript to show or hide layer
<script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"><!--
function HideContent(d) {
if(d.length < 1) { return; }
document.getElementById(d).style.display = "none";
}
function ShowContent(d) {
if(d.length < 1) { return; }
document.getElementById(d).style.display = "block";
}
function ReverseContentDisplay(d) {
if(d.length < 1) { return; }
if(document.getElementById(d).style.display == "none") { document.getElementById(d).style.display = "block"; }
else { document.getElementById(d).style.display = "none"; }
}
//--></script>
Javascript to be added to mouse over
onmouseover="HideContent('uniquename'); return true;" href="javascript:HideContent('uniquename')">
Javascript to be added to mouseup
="ShowContent('uniquename'); return true;" href="javascript:ShowContent('uniquename')">
switch "uniquename" to what ever you label your new div layer
Thanks
Brad