A cracking renewal which features the last two winners. Dodging Bullets won it in 2015 and Un De Sceaux was successful last year. Willie Mullins’ nine-year-old returned from a lay-off to land the Tingle Creek at Sandown last month and should strip fitter here but a case can also be made for the fourth that day, AR MAD. A top-class novice last season, he made a couple of costly errors at Sandown but will have come on a bundle for that run and was beaten less than four lengths at the line having found his second wind. Top Gamble ran well under a big weight in a Grade 3 at Cheltenham last time but, like Royal Regatta, probably comes up a little short at this level. Eastlake is another very good handicapper but last month’s Cheltenham winner rarely runs two races alike.
Ar Mad (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Raced freely, led, clear from 3rd, reached for 6th, stumbled on landing 8th and headed, lost 2nd 4 out, chased leading pair until 3 out, kept on trying and same pace in 4th, 4th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Un De Sceaux (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Dodging Bullets 4-1 (11-0) Tracked winner, every chance before 2 out, beaten when lost 2nd last, one pace, 4th of 5, 12l behind Josses Hill (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (1) gs in Dec.
Eastlake (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, steady headway from 7th, left handy 3 out, challenged next, led last, hung right flat, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec beating Un Beau Roman (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Royal Regatta (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Made all, hit 6th, ridden before 2 out, held on, all out, won at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov beating Kylemore Lough (11-7) by hd, 7 ran.
Top Gamble (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up, towards rear, headway on outside 4 out, 3rd 2 out, stayed on, no impression on winner, closing on 2nd near finish, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Shantou Flyer (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Un De Sceaux (FR) 5-4fav (11-7) Tracked clear leader, led 8th, mistake and joined 2 out, slight lead when bad mistake last, ridden and headed briefly run-in, in front again and found extra to assert final 100 yards, won at Sandown 2m (1) gs in Dec beating Sire De Grugy (11-7) by 1l, 6 ran.
