It was a surprise that Wise Eagle was allowed to start at 66/1 when second here last month. Balkardy also defied market expectations when placed on his hurdling debut but Caldwell was beaten 32 lengths at Wetherby, though still finished ahead of El Jefe who now wears a hood. Saint Palais was second over fences in France last October but may not have the pace of a clutch of interesting recruits from the Flat. Rains Of Castamere was a miler so may have stamina limitations and was also entered yesterday at Plumpton. PUNCTUATION stayed on 1m6f on the level when trained by Andrew Balding. He has the size to make a jumper and Brian Hughes rides. Salamanca School should also stay but became disappointing last year.
Balkardy (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway approaching 5th, no impression on leaders before 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, 3rd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Hamilton Dici (10-12) at Warwick 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Caldwell 15-2 (11-0) Raced wide throughout, led, headed 3rd, chased winner, ridden 4 out, struggling from next, jumped left 2 out, 2nd of 8, 32l behind Hacker Des Places (11-6) at Wetherby 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
El Jefe (IRE) 16-5 (11-0) Close up, ridden 4 out, soon beaten, 7th of 8, dist behind Hacker Des Places (11-6) at Wetherby 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Lanval (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Held up tracking leading pair until outpaced 4f out, rallied into modest 3rd again over 2f out, never any chance with winner, 3rd of 4, 17 3/4l behind Golden Rules (9-5) at Chelmsford City 1m 5f stks (5) pol in Oct.
Masterdream (FR) 80-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened and tailed off after 2 out, 6th of 13, 37 1/2l behind Wightman (10-12) at Taunton 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Punctuation 10-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 12f out until driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 14 1/2l behind Prince Alex (8-4) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Rains Of Castamere 13-2 (8-8) Made most, ridden 2f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, rallied to lead again towards finish, won at Newmarket 1m hcp (4) hvy in Oct beating Galactic Glow (9-4) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Saint Palais (FR) (10-7) 2nd of 6, shd behind Hellena (10-7) at Maure De Bretagne 2m 3f sft in Oct.
Salamanca School (FR) 2-1fav (9-3) Led, went clear 5f out until came back to the field over 3f out, ridden and headed inside final 2f, no chance with winner, kept on for 2nd, 2nd of 9, 13l behind Elham Valley (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 3f stks (4) gs in Aug.
Simply True (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) Led, slow and not fluent 4th, headed before last, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Adagio (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) sft in Dec.
Wise Eagle (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Midfield, headway to track leaders before 2 out, ridden after 2 out, went second after last, ran on but no match for winner, 2nd of 14, 5 1/2l behind Kings Creek (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Dec.
