Verdict

CROSS KENNON is on the crest of a wave at the moment having readily defied a 7-month absence to extend his winning sequence to three last Saturday and we fancy the Jennie Candlish gelding to go in again under a penalty ahead of Manadam and Star Tenor. The selection didn't have too hard a race when scoring tidily at Uttoxeter on Saturday in a better race than this one and a 7lb fixed penalty shouldn't stop the horse following up here, having shown a liking for a soft surface there. The improving five-year-old has a big weight to carry on ground that promises to be bottomless and that tempers enthusiasm slightly but that worry is offset by the lack of quality in opposition, headed by Manadam. Peter Buchanan's mount has only one victory to his name over hurdles but the French-bred gelding has performed with credit off higher marks than this and indeed in better company, so it would be no great surprise to see Lucinda Featherstone's horse add to that tally here. Star Tenor has at least been in good form of late but the best of those efforts have come in sellers and back in handicap company the horse looks to have work to do despite the assistance of 5lb claimer Ryan Mania in the saddle. Miss Tarrantella has at least shown a liking for heavy going in the past so she could go well from the foot of the weights whilst Norminster was running well when unseating last time, but it's fair to say that Cross Kennon makes by far the most compelling case here and he is the confident selection to go in again.

Formwatch

Cross Kennon (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway 8th, led after next, jumped right 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on well flat (no time taken), won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy beating Silver Bay (11-11) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.

Manadam (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, chased winner after 4 out until weakened from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 29l behind Peters Star (10-7) at Haydock 3m 1f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) hvy.

Star Tenor (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 8th, chased winner 9th, every chance 3 out, mistake 2 out, beaten before last, 2nd of 9, 17l behind Rathrockscourt (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gd in Oct.

Mini Minster 33-1 (11-6) Raced keenly, jumped right, led 1st, headed 7th, already weakened when mistake 3 out, 12th of 14, 46l behind Last Flight (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in May.

Original Fly (FR) 6-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders and mistakes, weakened from 4 out, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Peters Star (10-7) at Haydock 3m 1f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) hvy.

Norminster 18-1 (10-6) In touch, headway to go 2nd 7th, blundered and unseated rider next, in a race won by Bob's Dream (10-13) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs, 9 ran.

Manoubi 11-1 (10-11) Behind, headway 11th, stayed on to chase leading pair approaching last, soon ridden, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 12, 9l behind Garleton (11-4) at Hexham 2m 4f cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.

Amjad 7-1 (9-7) In touch, outpaced 3 out, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Dontpaytheferryman (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.

Miss Tarantella 16-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 13, 43l behind Changing Lanes (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May.