tracked leaders, effort going well after 4 out, stayed on under pressure to 2nd at last, no chance with winner
led, headed 4 out, under pressure before next, soon weakened, no chance when mistake next
slowly away and lost 15 lengths, always in rear, tailed off
keen hold early, held up in touch, good headway to track winner after 4 out, no impression when lost 2nd and mistake last, weakened flat
in touch, went prominent 4th, weakened before 3 out
tracked leader, led 4 out, in command from 2 out, stayed on strongly
close up, jumped slowly 4th and 5th, mistake and lost touch 8th, no chance when blundered 4 out, tailed off
The Tingle Creek has yet again produced a cracking good line-up with Azertyuiop taken to confirm his emergence as potentially the best two-mile chaser in the Isles, with his main dangers being Moscow Flyer and the selection's stablemate Le Roi Miguel. Despite unseating his rider at Exeter on his seasonal return, Azertyuiop's jumping was a feature of his novice campaign, which he ended by running out a deeply impressive winner of the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham. Moscow Flyer had won that race the year before and then landed this year's Queen Mother Champion Chase. He's a top-notch two-miler and will not relinquish his position at the head of the division lightly. He's already had a run this season, and has never been beaten over fences when completing the course. His record stands as 11 from 14 in this respect, and he was unlucky to unseat his rider in this race last year. The selection's stablemates Le Roi Miguel and Cenkos have also to be respected. The former won Grade 1 events at both Aintree and Punchestown as a novice last year and made a very pleasing reappearance under a big weight at Ascot. Cenkos seems to have been around forever but he's still only nine and he won this race last year. However, he is rated behind Azertyuiop in the Paul Nicholls pecking order, which swings our vote in the selection's favour. Flagship Uberalles won this race in 1999, 2000 (when it was staged at Cheltenham) and 2001 but unseated his rider in this race last year. He is probably not quite the force of old but is still completely worthy of lining up in this company. Seebald was a high-class novice and finished second to Moscow Flyer in the 2002 Arkle Chase. He beat Cenkos by a length-and-a-quarter over today's course and distance in April when in receipt of four pounds. They race off level weights today. His presence adds further flavour to an already agreeable racing cocktail. The field is completed by Eskleybrook. Much as he had a marvellous season last time around, official ratings mean that he has good bit to find on the cream of the two-mile division, which is what he will be facing in the Tingle Creek. The best of these for us is Azertyuiop.
