'We'd been struggling for form with him' - Azano bounces back for David O'Meara

Sunday: Redcar

Azano had managed to beat only one rival is his last three starts but bounced back to form at the scene of his Listed victory last year to land the feature mile handicap.

The David O'Meara-trained six-year-old had dropped 7lb in the handicap after his poor runs this season but, helped by a drop in class, won by a length under a good front-running ride from Jason Watson.

O'Meara said: "That was good today. We'd been struggling for form with him a little bit this year but he won the Guisborough last year at Redcar so he was back at a track he did well at before. It was a good, positive ride by Jason and it's a great result."

A return to Listed company could be next and O'Meara added: "I'm not sure if he will but he ran well in the Pomfret [at Pontefract] last year so I might go there on Sunday."

Surprise winner

There was a shock in division one of the 7f novice with the Tim Easterby-trained 33-1 outsider Vince Le Prince making a winning debut. The juvenile travelled strongly throughout and kept on well under Duran Fentiman to win by three-quarters of a length.

Good trip

The trip from Amy Murphy's Newmarket yard was made worthwhile as Taritino stepped forward from his debut sixth to land division two of the 7f novice.

Stefano Cherchi bounced out from the stalls in front and made all, winning by one and three-quarter lengths from the fast-finishing Michael Dods-trained Pol Roger.

Results, replays and analysis

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