raced in mainly close 2nd, pressed leader 3 out, pushed along and disputed lead 2 out, soon ridden and headed, good jump and led last, ran on well run-in
led, jumped left throughout, pressed 3 out, ridden before 2 out, headed 2 out, kept on but not pace of front pair
towards rear, hit 10th, pushed along 14th, always behind
in rear, headway to chase leaders home turn, ridden after 3 out, weakened quickly
mid-division, ridden before 3 out, weakened well before 2 out
mid-division, pushed along in close 4th before 3 out, ridden and disputed lead 2 out, led after 2 out, mistake last and headed, kept on, no extra run-in
mid-division, not fluent 8th, outpaced and pushed along 4 out, ridden and weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, kept on one pace from 2 out
The veteran Double Shuffle is only 1lb higher than when successful a year ago but has been in poor form subsequently. Caribean Boy won a Grade 2 novices' event at Newbury just over a year ago but has been very disappointing since while Wishing And Hoping, a convincing Aintree winner in October, ran poorly on softer ground on a return visit. Charlie Hall runner-up Kitty's Light hasn't impressed in his last two starts while Smarty Wild hasn't done it at this level. STRICTLYADANCER completed a hat-trick when scoring at this level at Haydock and can't have been right when bidding for a four-timer at Sandown. He's taken to bounce back given he looked very progressive on the Lancashire track.
Caribean Boy (FR) 13-2 (11-7) In rear, fell 1st, at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Wishing And Hoping (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Disputed lead, led 5th, headed before 11th, mistake 11th, losing touch and pushed along 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Kitty's Light 10-1 (12-0) Prominent early, soon dropped to midfield, not fluent 12th, pushed along after 4 out, kept on one pace from 2 out, 4th of 9, 13 1/2l behind Five Star Getaway (10-11) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Mac Tottie 40-1 (10-2) Front mid-division, lost place and pulled up before 16th, at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Double Shuffle (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway into mid-division 5th, lost ground 7th, ridden in rear before 13th (water), tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Smarty Wild 7-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway to press leaders before 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on one pace from last, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Head To The Stars (11-4) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
A Toi Phil (FR) 50-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, 10th of 16, 28l behind Vienna Court (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Strictlyadancer (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
