'Iveson Sisters Memorial' Novices' Chase

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 3m 55.60s

Caius Marcius^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 133| BF| CD

6/4

Turned over at short odds (second) in this race 12 months ago, but back on track in a second spell over fences at Sedgefield (2m+, good) last month; travelled well at Perth latest until outpointed by Nietzsche; 6lb better off (for 2L).

Form: 1307-12

Nietzsche^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 134| D

15/8

Solid hurdler - 2018 Grade 3 Greatwood winner; struck at the first time of asking over fences when beating Caius Marcius a shade comfortably at Perth (2m, good to soft) a fortnight ago; 6lb worse off under that winners penalty.

Form: 6103-01

Carntop^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 122| D

11/2

In winning form on good ground over hurdles at Worcester last summer, beating Monty's Award by 1¼L in August; returning from a break when finishing a respectable third of five to Tonto's Spirit on chasing debut at Cartmel (2m1f) last month.

Form: 21134-3

Innocent Touch⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 138| D

4/1

In a productive spell of form over hurdles last summer, winning three races at 2m on good ground (mainly Stratford); in contention when falling at Cheltenham in April; must forget that unsettling experience ahead of his chasing debut.

Form: 21151F-

Forecasts

Caius Marcius (6/4), Nietzsche (15/8), Innocent Touch (4/1), Carntop (11/2)

A small field, albeit not necessarily the easiest of races to solve with a couple of southern-based raiders taking on the Perth rivals NIETZSCHE and Caius Marcius. Jamie Snowden and Gavin Sheehan teamed up successfully here last weekend with Some Day Soon, and their representative Carntop should've taken plenty from last month's Cartmel chasing debut. However, this probably rests between the old rivals with the Brian Ellison-trained runner expected to confirm his superiority despite 6lb worse terms.