Fernie Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 25.00s

Tree Of Liberty²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 138| D

1/4

Has made a good start over fences, winning on debut at Ludlow (2m, soft) and finishing 10L adrift of Saturday's impressive winner Saint Calvados at Newbury last time. A repeat of either effort would make him tough to beat.

Form: 221P-12

Chirico Vallis^h,t⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 133| D

3/1

Chase record reads two falls and two wins and one of those falls was last time in the same Newbury race as Tree Of Liberty. 18L win at Bangor prior to that made him look a horse of potential and he is not ruled out if jumping round.

Form: 53-1F1F

St Merryn^t1²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: B R Summers| OR: 84

100/1

Well beaten in all starts in bumpers and over hurdles. 35lb out of the handicap for this chase debut and it looks impossible to make a case for him.

Form: 3/6-069

Non-Runners

Cobra De Mai¹⁰³

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Tree Of Liberty (1/4), Cobra De Mai (11/4), Chirico Vallis (3/1), St Merryn (100/1)

An interesting contest where TREE OF LIBERTY is taken to successfully concede weight to his three rivals and make it 2-3 over fences. He impressed on his Ludlow chase debut and, albeit it beaten by an easy 10L last time, the winner has since franked the form and is now around 6-1 for the Arkle. Chirico Vallis clearly has ability, but jumping has blemished his record so far. If he goes clear this time then he could get seriously competitive again, while Cobra De Mai is very much respected. He is probably one to note in the market after wind surgery, as it may give a hint as to whether the Dan Skelton team feel that he has benefited from that.