close up, chased leader 11th to 3 out, soon outpaced
close up until weakened 10th, blundered badly next, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
led until headed 2 out, rallied flat to regain 2nd last stride but no chance with winner
in rear when fell first
chased leaders, mistake 10th, mistake and lost place 12th, blundered 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up, mistake 7th, outpaced before 4 out
held up in touch, steady headway to track leaders 4 out, led 2 out, clear last, eased run in
tracked leaders, disputed 2nd from 3 out, chased winner and held when blundered last, lost 2nd last stride
Tikram, Spanish Point and Good Thyne Guy are all worthy of consideration in this moderate Beginners' Chase, and we will nominate Tikram as the selection. The gelding was a good second behind Santenay last time at Cheltenham, and would surely have won the race had he not made a bad blunder four from home. He will be suited by the step up in trip and he looks the one to beat. Spanish Point was a fair third behind Calling Brave at Folkestone on his chasing debut, and he showed enough on that day to suggest that he will be capable of winning races in the future. Good Thyne Guy fell on his chasing debut at Chepstow, but gets another chance here following a spell over hurdles, while Alpine Slave ran better than his finishing position suggests when fourth behind Lords Best at Folkestone. He should come on for that run and looks to have decent place claims. This will not take much winning, and Tikram is given the confident vote.
