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Module out to sparkle in Shloer

Tom George hopes a return to Cheltenham will spark Module back to life in the Shloer Chase on Sunday after a lacklustre first run of the season at Aintree.

The seven-year-old ran the race of his life to finish third in the Queen Mother Champion Chase but has since disappointed at Punchestown and in the Old Roan three weeks ago.

Module will be sporting cheekpieces for the first time in the two-mile Listed heat.

The Slad handler said: "He's always been a bit airy-fairy with his head so we've decided to put cheekpieces on. He's not ungenuine by any any stretch but hopefully they will help him concentrate.

"We've often thought two and half miles on good ground would be perfect for him but they went a stride too slow (at Aintree) - he jumped straight in the air at one fence and that was that.

"He did something similar in the Peterborough at Huntingdon the last time we stepped him up in trip so while he's always looked like he wants further, for now we are happy going back to two miles. We've gone back to what we know he likes - two miles at Cheltenham."

Another one who ran in the Old Roan was Alan King's Uxizandre, who fared a bit better by finishing fourth.

He took a huge leap forwards at the Festival in March when beaten only by Taquin Du Seuil in the JLT Novices' Chase, and backed that up by winning a Grade One at the Grand National meeting. Barry Geraghty keeps the ride, having ridden him in the Old Roan.

The Barbury Castle handler told his website: "AP (McCoy) always felt last year that the trip would suit him, and he has come on for his seasonal debut at Aintree, where he finished fourth in the Old Roan Chase .

"Barry loved him that day, and more aggressive riding tactics seem to have made all the difference to the horse. We have the cheekpieces back on, and I hope he will run very well."

The second highest-rated horse in the race is the northern raider Simply Ned, who was a very promising novice last season.

Greystoke-based handler Nicky Richards missed Cheltenham with his seven-year-old, but he was second only to Balder Succes at Aintree a month later to prove he was not far off the best of the crop.

He defied a big weight on his return to action at Kelso and is in receipt of 6lb from Module, yet is officially rated only 3lb inferior.

Richards said: "I thought he would win at Kelso and he went and did exactly what we thought he would. He is rated 161 after that, so I haven't got a lot of options for him. We have got to dip our toe in at some stage and we will find out on Sunday if he is up to it."


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