held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, headway 14th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened flat
raced wide, chased leaders, went 2nd 13th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
led after 1st, mistake 6th, headed approaching 12th, chased leaders until outpaced 14th, rallied from 2 out, stayed on flat
held up in touch, stayed on from 3 out, kept on into 3rd flat
held up in touch, chased leaders before 3 out, weakened approaching next
chased leaders, jumped slowly 2nd and 3rd, pushed along when blundered and dropped to rear 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 17th
always front rank, led 13th to 4 out, chased leader, stayed challenging, led soon after last, driven and stayed on gamely, held on
held up in rear, mistakes 8th and 10th, headway 15th, led 17th until 4 out, led again 3 out, kept on gamely, pressed last, headed soon after, kept trying
led until after 1st, prominent, led 12th until 13th, stayed challenging, led 4 out until 3 out,stayed challenging, stayed on same pace flat
Assuming everything is hunky-dory after his comeback third at Wincanton then DOUBLE EAGLE can prosper here off his light weight with three miles on soft ground ideal; Shillingstone and the progressive Any Currency could provide the stiffest opposition. Donald McCain's gelding has had his injury problems but he made a good impression at Wincanton last month when third to the classy Too Forward. He has always shaped as if this trip would suit (was tried over four miles at Exeter once) and with testing ground no problem he can take advantage off his light racing weight. At the other end of the handicap lies Shillingstone. He looked very progressive last year but a 12lb rise for his latest win at Newbury may leave him vulnerable. Mount Sandel took a crashing fall in a top race at Ascot last month but if his confidence is intact then he is still seen as interesting, a comment that also applies to Any Currency. Martin Keighley's course and distance winner has been at his best on slightly quicker ground however his third to The Package at Cheltenham means that he is still progressing and this strong-stayer has claims despite a further 2lb rise in the weights. Always Waining arguably needs quicker ground and he is one for Aintree later in the year, this longer trip should suit Isn't That Lucky who can creep into the race under Richard McGrath, whilst Ma Yahab is hit and miss but impressed on a recent comeback effort. Bowleaze doesn't have much to find with Any Currency on their Ascot running, whilst Or Jaune is a course winner whose recent sixth to Monkerhostin looks solid. Blinkers are tried on the regressive Wind Instrument as Alan King tries to get a better tune out of him, however the vote is given to Double Eagle.
Shillingstone 5-4fav (11-3) Held up, smooth headway, going well appraoching 15th, left 2nd at next, challenged going well approaching 4 out, led on bit last, soon quickened clear, won at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov beating Scots Dragoon (10-13) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Mount Sandel (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear when fell 10th, in a race won by The Sawyer (9-8) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Any Currency (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden 12th, hit 14th and dropped to rear, blundered 4 out, still plenty to do next, good headway on inside before 2 out, kept on well into 3rd after last, 3rd of 12, 7l behind The Package (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) sft in Dec.
Ma Yahab 16-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway 14th, chased leader approaching 4 out, led 3 out, strongly pressed soon after last, no extra and headed flat, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Ballyfoy (11-12) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.
Bowleaze (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Held up in touch, lost place 8th, headway after 10th to track leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened last, 6th of 11, 8l behind Any Currency (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Offaly (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Chased leading trio, blundered badly 5th, not fluent next, mistake and ridden 8th, last and struggling 10th, left poor 4th 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Duc De Regniere (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f grd chs (5yo+) (2) gs.
Wind Instrument (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Towards rear, not fluent 4th, ridden and struggling 12th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Qhilimar (10-11) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Maktu 10-3 (11-3) Keen early, soon tracked leader, blundered and lost 2nd 14th, weakened from 3 out, 3rd of 5, 28l behind Kawagino (10-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs (3) gs in Jan.
Double Eagle 11-4fav (11-7) Chased leaders, left disputing close 3rd 3 out, one pace in 3rd and no impression on front pair from next, 3rd of 9, 13l behind Too Forward (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Isn't That Lucky 8-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, chased leaders until blundered and lost place 9th, behind and no chance after, 8th of 18, 49l behind Mount Oscar (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Always Waining (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, in 4th when fell 8th, in a race won by Dev (10-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Or Jaune (FR) 16-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, went left 18th, weakened soon after 3 out, 6th of 13, 14l behind Monkerhostin (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) gs.
