Apprentice is one win away from losing his 10-pound claim

Alvin Ng Ka-chun may not have had the season many were expecting, but the apprentice continues to whittle away and Cheerful Double proved the best stayer in the Class Five over 1,600m to take the junior rider within one win of losing his 10-pound claim. The Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained Cheerful Double's only previous victory came over 2,200m at Happy Valley earlier in the season and that depth of stamina proved invaluable yesterday when favourite Medic Champion and outsider Bold Tack went head and head in the lead, setting a strong tempo that punctured most of the field by the 400m. It was Ng's 12th win this season and his 19th Hong Kong victory in all.