RSA Chase entry who sidestepped a hot race at Ascot on Saturday to come here. Picked up a weak race last time having come up against useful horses on his two previous starts. Handicapper has set him no easy task.
Tough and consistent sort for in form yard who do well here. Has made the frame on all completed starts and not harshly treated having got the better of a tough battle last time. Remains to be seen if this race comes too soon.
Recent form does not instil confidence but the yard are doing better more recently than they were then. Worth a check in the market now his mark has begun to fall.
Showed a useful level of form over hurdles two years ago to suggest he could exploit his current mark. The evidence of his two runs back from a layoff suggest today will not be that day.
Forecasts
Label Des Obeaux (11/8), Wild West Wind (11/8), Herbert Park (9/1), In The Rough (12/1), Ugolin De Beaumont (12/1)
WILD WEST WIND holds entries in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and the Eider at Newcastle, which suggest stamina is not a problem. He kept on well to score last time and this stiff track should see him to even better effect. He continues on the upgrade and is taken to land this at the expense of Label des Obeaux. Alan King's charge also hold a Festival entry but the handicapper has taken a far from lenient view of his latest success. In The Rough may be seen to better effect in the summer but still makes more appeal than the other pair.
1. Wild West Wind
2. Label Des Obeaux
3. In The Rough