tracked winner, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed next, every chance last, one pace
led, headed approaching 8th, pecked 3 out, led 2 out, kept on
tracked leaders, led approaching 8th, headed and hit 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, chased winner flat, no impression
Nonrunner
Chergan has every chance at the weights but Sue Bradburne's gelding is not as effective over this trip as over shorter and preference is for Sikander A Azam, who gets the verdict ahead of Next To Nothing. The last mentioned represents the yard of Nicky Richards and is less exposed than his rivals after just seven career starts. A winner of a handicap chase in testing conditions over three miles at Newcastle in March, the eight-year-old was pulled up on his only subsequent start at Carlisle the following month. The lack of a run since is of concern and the market may provide the best guide as to his chance. A safer bet looks to be David Easterby's Sikander A Azam who was a useful handicapper a couple of years ago returned to action last term following a season off and showed something like his old form in hunter chase company. The son of Arctic Lord made a winning reappearance at Ascot then so lack of a recent outing need not be of concern and he looks to be the one they have to beat. Mid Summer Lark, a winner of a hunter chase at Hexham in March when last seen, looks the pick of the rest but Sikander A Azam has an obvious chance and gets the vote.
