188Bet Lady Protectress Mares' Chase (Listed)

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 5m 18.2s

Desert Queen^t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 148

11/10

Has been well placed to win 5-14 over jumps, including an easy success in a similar contest last time at Leicester (2m6½f, good). Has to concede 10lb to all comers, but still very much a leading contender.

Form: 2777-12

Actinpieces³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 134

5/2

Has a few pounds to find with Desert Queen compared to if this were a handicap and can be an in and out performer, but she has won 2-6 this season over fences and comes here on the back of a Catterick success. Drop back to this trip is a concern though.

Form: 382-U61

Antartica De Thaix^h,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132

9/2

Probable winner at Bangor last time when chief rival fell at the last and gifted her the race. Nonetheless, she is a steadily improving performer and could be bang there once again.

Form: 1232-22

Colla Pier⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: D P Dunne

20/1

Runner-up in a similar contest at Doncaster earlier in the season and has a solid profile, though is probably going to need one or two to run below par to be capable of winning this.

Form: 382554

Kassis⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 107

40/1

Picked up a couple of chases in 2015 and last year, both at around this trip, though her sole success this season was over hurdles. Plenty to find with most of these and hard to fancy.

Form: 548-141

Kilronan High^t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: William Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132

14/1

Has won bumpers, a hurdle and two chases, including over 2m5f at Hereford in October. Was still going well enough then unseating in the Leicester race won by Desert Queen and with a clear round she could pick up some prize money.

Form: 4210UU

Non-Runners

Pass The Time³⁵

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: N P Mulholland J: James Best

Forecasts

Desert Queen (11/10), Actinpieces (5/2), Antartica De Thaix (9/2), Pass The Time (5/1), Kilronan High (14/1), Colla Pier (20/1), Kassis (40/1)

DESERT QUEEN is best in at the weights here and despite having to concede weight all around, she comes here in cracking form and can follow-up her Leicester win. Pass The Time looks next best after a recent run on the Flat to blow off the cobwebs, while Actinpieces, Antartica De Thaix and Kilronan High should be joining battle for some black type.