Robert Baskerville 2017-2018 Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 5m 41.6s

Arctic Gold²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 131| D

15/8

Five-times hurdles winner, but is 0-5 over fences despite some useful efforts. Still leading when falling four out over the Grand National obstacles at Aintree last time and should take some beating if that experience has not knocked his confidence.

Form: 33-722F

Town Parks²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 125

7/1

Won a Ludlow maiden hurdle in February, but connections soon switched him to fences. Three starts over the bigger obstacles have revealed ability although he did come a cropper at Bangor last time.

Form: 122-44U

Buster Thomas²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 123| D

3/1

Successful in one of his two hurdles races and, after finishing a distant third of 10 on his chasing debut at Exeter, he had already faded out of a contention when falling at the last at Haydock. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 2/12-3F

Back To The Thatch²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 120

4/1

Made mistakes before falling on his chasing debut at Ffos Las, but much better last time when second of eight in a handicap at Haydock. Runs off the same mark and proved that day that he can handle testing ground.

Form: 1249-F2

No Dice^t²⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118

7/2

Placed over hurdles and fences when trained in Ireland by Tony Martin. Starts out for current trainer after nine months off and is an intriguing contender.

Form: 2443F3-

Forecasts

Arctic Gold (15/8), Buster Thomas (3/1), No Dice (7/2), Back To The Thatch (4/1), Town Parks (7/1)

Irish import No Dice is interesting off bottom weight, while Buster Thomas and Back To The Thatch both ran with credit at Haydock last time and can figure again. Town Parks and ARCTIC GOLD both came a cropper last time, but the latter was running a mighty race in a valuable handicap over the Grand National fences at Aintree and deserves to be given another chance.