Nancy Baskerville Memorial Handicap Chase

Off time: 19:21 | Winning time: 4m 3.70s

Lycidas^h,t⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Robson| T: J Ewart| OR: 117| BF| D

7/1

Useful sort on the Flat and over hurdles (won off a higher mark than this) who needed the run when making his belated chase debut. Still looked as though he had ability but was rather keen after a year off; entitled to come on for that start.

Form: 32513/3

Tikkinthebox^p1,t⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 115| DWS

11/8

Showed improved form last spring/summer over fences scoring three times (twice around 2m). Handicapper rather got hold of him after his third victory (went into winter on a downturn). Has looked rather ring-rusty since; first run back from wind op.

Form: 133P4-P

Vancouver²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 115| CD

11/4

His recent winning form over hurdles has come in selling company having formerly shown some decent form in a better grade in that sphere. Well below any of his recent hurdles form on his chasing debut recently, his jumping proving a worry.

Form: 016-233

Fago^t²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: L Allan| OR: 115

11/2

Rather unconvincing/unreliable character who at least shaped as though he retained some ability at Aintree last time (played up at the start). Extremely well weighted on his old form but hard to know if he will repeat or even build on that last run.

Form: PP12/4-3

Spring Steel^t⁷¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 107| DWS

6/1

Reappears from a long time off the track having been a decent chaser when last seen; winner of three handicaps back in 2016. Undergone wind surgery since he's been off (handicapper not dropped him) interesting to see what the market makes of him.

Form: 225282/

Bob's Call^p⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: R J Armson| OR: 69

66/1

Hard to recommend from this far out of the handicap (22lb) with his recent form being very modest. Let down by his jumping last time and with little chance of gaining a first Rules victory here.

Form: P1PP-66

Forecasts

Tikkinthebox (11/8), Vancouver (11/4), Fago (11/2), Spring Steel (6/1), Lycidas (7/1), Bob's Call (66/1)

Given that he was entitled to be rather fresh and a little free on his first start for a while the Kelso run that LYCIDAS put together on his comeback was more than acceptable. Looking at his hurdles form and marks he looks well weighted in this with the opposition not looking especially strong. Tikkinthebox has to be forgiven a poor run last time but he has slipped back to his last winning mark but a wind op since that run suggests there was a problem and he may well be able to show more this time. Fago is more than capable off this mark if he’s on his game while the market should be watched very closely with regard to long absent Spring Steel.