led and disputed, led 4 out, joined next, soon ridden, headed 2 out, kept on gamely run-in
waited with in rear, headway on outside before 3 out, kept on run-in, went 3rd towards finish, never going pace to get competitive
held up towards rear, some headway 6th, jumped slowly when towards rear 9th, hit 14th, ridden and no response before 2 out, never a factor
mid-division, reached for 2nd, pushed along and weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along and no impression between last 2
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, losing place disputing well held 5th when blundered badly and almost unseated rider 2 out, weakened
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, went 3rd next, kept on same pace, no chance with leading duo, went left and hit last, lost 3rd close home
held up in last pair, never on terms, mistake last
led and disputed, hit 11th, mistake and headed 4 out, chased leaders, weakened before next
chased leaders, close 2nd after 4 out, led 2 out, 2 lengths ahead last, driven out
Stamina limitations which apply elsewhere are not always as much of a factor on this sharp track, as Adrien Du Pont proved last time. He’ll be a factor again as long as there isn’t a strong pace but this is surely too far for talented-but-inconsistent stablemate Modus. Tom George has a good record in this and Double Shuffle’s finest hour came over this course and distance when second to Might Bite in the 2017 King George. Glen Rocco is a young chaser on an upward curve and he was impressive here last time, though the quality of the opposition was questionable. Rather Be has been well backed in a couple of hot handicaps at Cheltenham this season and is worth a try over 3m around here but TALKISCHEAP (NAP) makes more appeal. He’s only won a match so far over fences but has twice up come up against the high-class mare La Bague Au Roi in his four races and was trying to give 6lb to the well-regarded On The Blind Side here last month. He is looking a much better chaser than hurdler and looks well treated on his handicap debut over the larger obstacles.
Double Shuffle (IRE) 40-1 (11-10) In touch, lost place 12th, outpaced 5 out, 5th of 10, 31l behind Clan Des Obeaux (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Adrien Du Pont (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Waited with in rear, steady on inside headway tracking leaders 14th, challenged on bit 3 out, 2nd next, led approaching last, kept on strongly run-in, won at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec beating Just A Sting (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Modus 8-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, in 3rd before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 8 1/2l behind Cracking Find (10-0) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Rather Be (IRE) 7-2fav (10-11) Mid-division, ridden and no impression from 4 out, never on terms with leaders, 5th of 12, 21 3/4l behind Frodon (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Dec.
Talkischeap (IRE) 5-4fav (11-6) Chased leaders on inside, lost place before 11th, rallied into 3rd 14th, went 2nd going well enough before 3 out, every chance from 2 out until mistake last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 7, 3 1/4l behind On The Blind Side (11-0) at Kempton 3m (4) gs in Jan.
Catamaran Du Seuil (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Towards rear, outpaced before 4 out, plugged on from 2 out, went 4th before last, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Calipto (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Romain De Senam (FR) 11-10fav (11-12) Bit keen and jumped left at times, tracked leading pair, 2nd briefly at 9th, tracked leader 12th, went left next, challenged and went left 2 out, upsides and untidy last, quickened to lead run-in, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Jan beating Fox Appeal (11-9) by 2l, 4 ran.
Glen Rocco 11-4fav (10-2) Held up in last trio, headway into 3rd place 10th, left close 2nd 4 out, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gd in Jan beating Bally Longford (10-8) by 23l, 7 ran.
Didero Vallis (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Jumped well, led until approaching 4 out, led again next, kept on well under pressure, won at Haydock 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Gold Opera (11-9) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Walt (IRE) 7-1 (10-3) Tracked leader, led approaching and not fluent 4 out, joined last, narrowly headed run-in, rallied and kept on towards finish, 2nd of 9, nk behind De Rasher Counter (10-7) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
