tracked leaders, chased winner after 16th, every chance and hit 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well, no extra close home
jumped right and never going well in rear, tailed off and pulled up after 15th
led 2nd until 4th, with winner, hit 15th, ridden after 16th, weakened after 3 out
led until 2nd, led 4th, made rest, ridden approaching last, stayed on well, ridden out
With the hat trick-seeking Stand Easy needing to improve again to win and Search And Destroy not looking good enough, this should lie between Dear Deal and Whereareyounow with preference for the latter. The selection represents the in-form stable of Nigel Twiston-Davies and comes here on the back of a comfortable success in a match race at Stratford. Admittedly this is tougher but the son of Mister Lord is taken to make the most of the weight that he receives from Dear Deal. Colin Tizzard's gelding overcame an absence from the track of 10 months when an easy winner of a novices' chase over course and distance last month. He has to be respected on that evidence but there is a worry that the son of Sharp Deal may suffer from the "bounce" factor and he is probably best watched. Stand Easy has not beaten much in winning back-to-back races at Uttoxeter in the spring and has not been seen since, while Search And Destroy has plenty to find on official BHB ratings. Whereareyounow gets the vote to give Nigel Twiston-Davies another winner.