raced wide, held up, disputing close 6th when blundered 4 out, left disputing close 3rd 3 out, challenged 2 out, upsides last, stayed on gamely to lead last strides
made most until narrowly headed 5 out, 3 lengths 2nd and looking held when left in lead 3 out, joined 2 out, kept on gamely from last, led last strides
chased leaders, left disputing close 3rd 3 out, one pace in 3rd and no impression on front pair from next
held up in rear, headway on outside after 8th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off when jumped badly left 3 out
close up on outside, mistake 9th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
in touch, pushed along 11th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
raced wide, held up, mistake 11th, headway under pressure approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
chased leaders, mistake 10th, led after 5 out, 3 lengths clear and going strongly when fell heavily 3 out
chased leader, not fluent 11th, lost 2nd approaching 3 out and weakened before next
DOUBLE EAGLE is the tentative suggestion ahead of Amble Forge and Magot De Grugy amongst others. The market suggested that Double Eagle wasn't going to lack for fitness ahead of his seasonal return so his well beaten third has to go down as a slightly disappointing performance. However, he hasn't had a great deal of racing lately so it's possible that he did need the run whilst the way that he shaped suggests that he'll benefit from being stepped back up in trip on his return to chasing and that he retains his ability. Amble Forge has been enjoying a decent run of form and has to be high on the short-list with his yard amongst the winners but his task is getting harder as he edges up the weights. Magot De Grugy also has to figure prominently given the level of consistency that he has shown but he has given the impression that he needs everything to fall right in order to get his head in front from his current perch. Pacco has claims but may prefer a more testing track whilst Oncle Kid's jumping lets him down too often for comfort and this trip looks on the short side for Gaora Lane who failed to land a blow last time. It wouldn't be a race to take too strong a view on but Double Eagle may be able to swoop.
Too Forward (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Behind, kept on from 4 out but never in contention, 6th of 18, 35l behind Mount Oscar (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Gaora Lane (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened after next, 10th of 17, 32l behind Sound Stage (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) sft in Dec.
Double Eagle 11-4fav (11-11) Held up towards rear, chased leaders from 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 9, 17l behind Open de L'Isle (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov.
Amble Forge (IRE) 11-1 (10-4) Raced on inside, in touch, headway approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on into 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Magic Sky (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Lidjo De Rouge (FR) 16-1 (11-1) Behind, ridden 3 out, stayed on under pressure from next, never near leaders, 7th of 17, 23l behind Sound Stage (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) sft in Dec.
Pacco (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Held up, ridden 3 out, kept on flat, never nearer, 4th of 10, 6l behind Senor Shane (10-7) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.
Magot de Grugy (FR) 11-1 (11-8) In touch, chased winner 6th to 9th and again from 10th, beaten 2 out, no extra and lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Pontiff (10-10) at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Oncle Kid (FR) 6-1 (10-12) Behind, hit 7th, headway when not fluent 13th, ridden to chase leaders approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 3rd of 14, 15l behind Plein Pouvoir (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Master Cobbler (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) In touch, ridden when mistake 4 out, weakening when hit 3 out, 4th of 12, 16l behind Afistfullofpebbles (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
