Westons Cider Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 5m 34.80s

Town Parks²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 128| D

11/4

Consistent sort who was in good form last season over hurdles, winning in the mud at Ludlow. Improving over fences, bouncing back from a spill at Bangor to score over 2m4f at Uttoxeter (heavy) last month. Strong claims.

Form: 22-44U1

Perfect Pirate^p1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 126| BF| D

5/2

Lightly-raced gelding who won over hurdles last winter and repeated the feat over fences there (2m4f, good) in November. Cheekpieces reached for after he jumped left on occasions when disappointing at Sandown on his handicap bow.

Form: 9124-18

Silverhow²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 119

6/1

Came good for Nicky Henderson over hurdles last spring when winning twice at around 2m but fell early on his chasing debut for this yard last month. Soundly beaten on heavy ground at Wincanton since but open to improvement.

Form: 1216-F4

Becauseshesaidso¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 112

7/2

Not had that much racing since winning a bumper on his debut in 2014 but took full advantage of a falling chase mark to win emphatically at Chepstow (2m3f, heavy) earlier this month. Raised 12lb but should mount another bold bid.

Form: P36241

Nansaroy¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 111

4/1

Bumper winner who also scored on his debut over hurdles in 2015 but has never quite lived up to expectations after that. Most recent chase efforts have been poor and hard to fancy right now.

Form: 24-4U86

Forecasts

Perfect Pirate (5/2), Town Parks (11/4), Becauseshesaidso (7/2), Nansaroy (4/1), Silverhow (6/1)

Becauseshesaidso proved a revelation when hacking up in the mud at Chepstow 10 days ago but, following a 12lb rise, may just find TOWN PARKS too tough a nut to crack. Kerry Lee's gelding bounced back well from a tumble at Bangor to win in the mud at Uttoxeter last time and, given that the well beaten third has won since, a 3lb rise may not be enough to anchor him. Perfect Pirate ran no sort of race when jumping errantly at Sandown last time but could have a big say if cheekpieces have the desired effect.