chased leading pair until outpaced 3 out, stayed on to take modest 3rd 2 out
close up until driven along and outpaced 11th, soon struggling
disputed lead until 3 out, soon weakened
tracking leaders when blundered and fell 7th
held up last pair, steady headway to track leading pair before 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, upsides and driven last, no extra run-in
led and disputed, definite advantage when hit 4 out, strongly pressed and joined last, driven and kept on well run-in
close up when unseated rider 4th
in last pair when hampered 4, ridden along and struggling 13th, soon well behind
Stormy Skye won a more competitive race than this last time out, and is fancied to follow up despite a rise in the weights, with Three Days Reign, Calcot Flyer and Majestic Moonbeam his main rivals. Stormy Skye made the most of a light weight when coming through to beat Bee An Bee at Lingfield at the end of October, and as that was a grade higher than today's contest, he makes most appeal. Three Days Reign is better treated than at the start of the year and has won here in the past, but at the age of 11 has not got any improvement surely, while Majestic Moonbeam is a mere novice in contrast and will need the run. A bigger danger to the selection may be Calcot Flyer, although he was raised 10lbs after opening his account at Worcester in April and has not been seen since finishing third at Uttoxeter in May. He probably has more scope than most, but with fitness assured our selection today has to be Stormy Skye.
Infrasonique (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Prominent, led 3rd to 6th, led 10th until after 12th, every chance 4 out, bad mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 26l behind Bob Ar Aghaidh (11-12) at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Oct.
Multi Talented (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Always behind, tailed off when mistake 13th, 11th of 14, well behind Spot Thedifference (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (B) gd.
Royale Acadou (FR) 16-1 (10-8) Chased leaders until 5th, soon behind, 7th of 11, 38l behind Critical Stage (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f clm hdl (F) gs.
Stormy Skye (IRE) 18-1 (10-2) Prominent, led 5th to 12th, led 4 out, narrowly headed next, rallied and driven ahead close home, won at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Oct beating Bee An Bee (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Majestic Moonbeam (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Held up, headway approaching 10th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, one pace approaching last, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Parson Ploughman (10-9) at N Abbot 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Nov '04.
Muttley Maguire (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Prominent, mistake 6th, behind from 9th, 8th of 15, well behind Nazimabad (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gd in Oct.
Calcot Flyer 5-1jt-fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway 9th, ridden to challenge 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 12, 24l behind Gallik Dawn (10-6) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in May.
Three Days Reign (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, ridden and weakened 4 out, 4th of 5, 37l behind Undeniable (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd.
