tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 5th, led 7th, clear from 3 out, canter
led, not fluent 5th, headed 7th, chased winner, beaten before 2 out
held up in rear and in touch, not fluent 3rd, jumped slow 4th, weakened 9th, went remote 3rd last, no impression
tracked leader until 5th, took keen hold, weakened 4 out, jumped right 2 out, lost 3rd last
Gleann Eagas had some decent form over hurdles in the early part of last season but returns from a lengthy absence here and makes his debut over the larger obstacles, as do Silver Commander and Time Book. SIRE DE GRUGY couldn't cope with Grade 1 company at Aintree last time but won twice in the autumn and was only beaten two lengths by Captain Conan in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham. He should get back to winning ways as ex-pointer Zipit might need this.
Sire De Grugy (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, hit 4 out, went 2nd before next until driven after 2 out, 4th and weakening when bad mistake last, 4th of 6, 26l behind Special Tiara (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov chs G1 (1) gd.
Gleann Eagas (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Led until not fluent 6th, blundered when losing place 9th, soon weakened, pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Abnaki (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr '12, 17 ran.
Time Book (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Behind, hit 3rd, headway to mid-division after 5th, weakened approaching next, tailed off, 10th of 15, well behind Farbreaga (11-7) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Zipit (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Tracked winner, jumped right and not fluent 1st, raced in 3rd from 2nd, chased winner again 8th until 2 out, soon outpaced, last of 3, 10l behind Indian Daudaie (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Jun.
Silver Commander 5-1 (11-4) In touch in mid-division, not fluent when closing 7th, challenged before 3 out, every chance when landed steeply and lost hind footing last, not recover, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Market Option (10-13) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
