KKA-Highpoint Beginners' Chase

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 37.1s

Absolute Power³⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis

50/1

Placed on first three starts under Rules, but absent since running poorly over hurdles at Ffos Las a year ago. Entitled to need this initial chase outing after such an absence, but primarily looks out of his depth in a strong race.

Form: 23/26-

Book of Gold²³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood

33/1

Maiden hurdler who showed fairly useful form at best last season, but ended his campaign with two poor runs. Plenty to prove starting out over fences.

Form: 34239P-

Lostintranslation²⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| C

13/8

Smart novice hurdler last season, when his best effort was a ½L second of 12 to Black Op in Grade 1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree. Type to do even better over fences, and has scope for further improvement.

Form: 221672-

Talkischeap²³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 141| C

9/1

Unbeaten in three point-to-points and won three times over hurdles last season. Out his depth at Cheltenham in March, but ought to pay his way now switching to fences.

Form: 3/1141P-

Thomas Campbell²⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

4/1

Another to make chase debut and looked like he would take high rank in the staying hurdle division when winning pair of 3m handicaps at Cheltenham last autumn. Didn't cut much ice in graded contests afterwards but afforded plenty of respect here.

Form: 11560P-

La Bague Au Roi¹⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| C

15/8

Won her first three starts over hurdles last season, including a Grade 3 at Ascot, and excuses at Cheltenham and Punchestown in the spring. Likely to bounce back, and is an athletic sort who should be at least as good over fences.

Form: 1/11177-

Forecasts

Lostintranslation (13/8), La Bague Au Roi (15/8), Thomas Campbell (4/1), Talkischeap (9/1), Book of Gold (33/1), Absolute Power (50/1)

LA BAGUE AU ROI ended her 2017/18 campaign on a low note, but she has all the attributes to make a high-class chaser and can make the most of the weight she receives from some decent opposition. Lostintranslation did very well in a light hurdling campaign and appeals as the type to continue to thrive, so is preferred to the more exposed Thomas Campbell for second.