held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway when not fluent 4 out, went 10 lengths 2nd on bend after 3 out, closed 2 out, every chance flat, no impression towards finish
led, clear 7th, 10 lengths ahead on bend after 3 out, mistake and reduced lead 2 out, driven when mistake last, soon edged right, pulled out extra to draw away towards finish
held up in rear, not fluent and struggling 7th, well beaten next, pulled up after 3 out
tracked leaders, pushed along after 7th, ridden after 3 out, no impression, one pace
tracked winner, not fluent 6th, lost 2nd when no impression on bend after 3 out, one pace
held up towards rear, headway before 7th, 5th and outpaced 3 out
chased leaders on outside, ridden and lost place after 7th, well beaten from 4 out, pulled up after 3 out
tracked leaders on inside, ridden and lost place approaching 7th, pulled up after 3 out
took keen hold, chased leaders, not fluent 6th, lost place before 7th, behind 4 out, pulled up after
Some very promising novices faces the starter in this. Open Eagle won the November Handicap on the Flat at Doncaster in 2014 and loves the ground. He has made steady progress over hurdles and it was no surprise that he didn't have the pace to cope with Altior over 2m at Kempton on Boxing Day. Stablemate Thomas Hobson won very easily over 2m4f at Punchestown having finished second in a Grade 3 previously but Final Nudge appeared to have his limitations exposed at Cheltenham last time while this is a significant step up for Aintree winner Definite Outcome, though Rebecca Curtis holds him in high regard. Dan Skelton won this last year with an unexposed type and can repeat the trick with BORN SURVIVOR. It was hard not to be impressed by the way he won his maiden here and the second has bolted up since – the five-year-old should relish this test. Wishing And Hoping and McKenzie's Friend are progressive so can't be ignored.
Open Eagle (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Prominent, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 13l behind Altior (11-8) at Kempton 2m (2) gs in Dec.
Thomas Hobson 6-5 (11-8) Led, slight mistakes 2nd and 4th, not fluent 3 out, joined before 2 out, soon led again, asserted from before last, soon edged left briefly, ridden out run-in, eased near finish, won at Punchestown 2m 4f sft in Dec beating Jetstream Jack (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Wishing And Hoping (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, left in lead 2 out, edged right between last two, kept on gamely run-in, driven out, won at Ascot 2m (3) sft in Nov beating Clayton (11-0) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Born Survivor (IRE) 5-6fav (11-0) Always handy on inside, led 3 out, shaken up flat, comfortably, won at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Dec beating Minella Charmer (11-0) by 2l, 14 ran.
Definite Outcome (IRE) 8-13fav (10-12) Tracked leader, led before 6th, ridden and pressed flat, in command final 100 yards, driven out, won at Aintree 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov beating Flying Angel (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Final Nudge (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, not fluent 3 out, ridden to chase winner before last, every chance flat, no impression final 100 yards, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Dec.
McKenzie's Friend (IRE) 1-2fav (11-5) Led until approaching 2nd, led after after 8th, clear before 2 out, easily, won at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec beating Fin D'espere (10-12) by 12l, 8 ran.
Viens Chercher (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Led, ridden 2 out, headed last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Welsh Shadow (11-0) at Haydock 2m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Ballagh (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) Sometimes jumped left, led until 2 out, chased winner until the last, 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 6, 7 1/4l behind O O Seven (11-4) at Sandown 2m (3) sft in Dec.
