chased leader, led 9th until 13th, weakened quickly before next
chased leaders, hampered 9th, led 13th, ridden and headed last, 3rd and one pace run-in
held up in last pair, headway on outside 3 out, chased leaders hanging right approaching 2 out, stayed on well run-in, almost snatched 3rd
towards rear, mistake 10th, headway under pressure chasing leaders and hung right from 3 out, hit next, weakened run-in
raced wide, chased leaders, left 2nd and hampered 9th, l every chance when blundered 3 out, recovered to challenge last, went 2nd run-in, stayed on, always held
chased leaders, hit 4th, pushed along before 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
led 1st, hit 8th, fell 9th
chased leaders until pulled up quickly after 2nd
chased leaders on inside, slightly hampered 9th, chased leading pair 14th, pushed along before 3 out where slightly impeded, driven between last two, weakened run-in
led until mistake and headed 1st, chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened
took keen hold, held up towards rear on inside, never involved, tailed off when blundered last
held up towards rear, headway on inside before 3 out, run flattened out approaching next
patiently ridden and held up last, hit 7th, steady headway 14th, tracking leaders on inside on bit before 3 out, 2nd 3 out, produced to lead at the last, kept on well and always doing enough run-in, wonderful ride
With good ground forecast, DOUBLE SHUFFLE looks to have plenty in his favour as he bids to follow up a course and distance victory over Christmas. Tom George regularly targets this Grade 3 handicap and his seven-year-old is still relatively unexposed over fences and over this trip. Irish Saint is starting to come down the weights and has winning form at a higher level. He is three from three at the track and has a better chance of staying 3m here than at places like Sandown and Ascot so is much respected. Three Musketeers has probably promised more than he’s delivered so far but did win last time at Market Rasen, though has his stamina to prove. Theatre Guide is a stone higher than when beating 2013 winner Opening Batsman 10 lengths in the race last year but the lightly-weighted Fingerontheswitch could figure if he isn’t let down by his jumping and Ballykan is possibly more consistent than either Viva Steve or Aso.
Annacotty (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Prominent, mistake and unseated rider 2nd, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Theatre Guide (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, disputing 5th 5 out, weakened 3 out, 7th of 20, 31 1/2l behind Native River (11-12) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Aso (FR) 5-1fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, mistake 7th, 9th when mistake 3 out, soon well beaten, 8th of 13, 29 1/2l behind Foxtail Hill (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Three Musketeers (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Always prominent, led 5 out, hard ridden 2 out, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f (2) sft in Jan beating Kilcrea Vale (11-0) by 3l, 6 ran.
Double Shuffle (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up, headway tracking leaders 4th, went 2nd and hit 3 out, ridden before next where jumped left, driven to lead before the last, kept on strongly run-in, won at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec beating Go Conquer (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Irish Saint (FR) 4-1 (11-9) Raced wide, tracked leader until 4th, chased leaders, effort on outside in 3rd going well 3 out, disputing 2nd when pecked 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 3rd of 8, 18 3/4l behind Otago Trail (11-12) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Cocktails At Dawn 11-1 (11-3) Mistake in last, weakened before 4 out, 4th of 5, dist behind Many Clouds (11-10) at Aintree 3m 1f lst (1) gs in Dec.
Triolo D'Alene (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced after 13th, weakened before 14th, 10th of 14, dist behind Regal Encore (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Ballykan 5-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, weakened after last, 4th of 13, 9 1/2l behind Valadom (10-12) at Bangor 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Viva Steve (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway 12th, 3rd when mistake 18th, blundered 3 out, weakened before next, 10th of 20, 37 1/4l behind One For Arthur (10-11) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Raced wide, led until 5th, pressed leader, led again 11th until 4 out, chased leader until after 3 out, weakening when tired jump next, 5th of 8, 20l behind Double Shuffle (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway 6th to chase leaders, led 3 out, clear from last, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan beating Sharney Sike (11-5) by 9l, 8 ran.
Pilgrims Bay (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, mistake 4th, mistake 10th, soon closed, 3rd when mistake 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Dusky Lark (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
