Ash & Ali Tied The Knot Novices' Chase

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 6m 54.80s

Ard Chros¹⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| D

6/1

Dual Irish point winner who should come on for what was a respectable rules debut over the equivalent hurdles track when last seen in March. Acts with cut in the ground and no surprise to see him have a big say on this chase debut.

Form: P411/3-

Asking For Answers²⁰⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R D Day| T: M Todhunter| OR: 93

33/1

Has done most of his racing at Ayr, where he has proved himself on soft at up to 2m5½f. Switches to chasing now, and there should be scope for some improvement, but a watching brief looks prudent first time.

Form: 0P785U-

Buddha Scheme^t,v1¹⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 96WS

40/1

Showed minor promise on his debut over hurdles at Haydock (2m7f, soft) last December, but couldn't improve on that in two further tries. Has had wind surgery since last seen in May. Interesting pedigree and can surely do better over fences.

Form: 3/459-4

Cairnshill²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 117

20/1

Won three of his 29 hurdles, at up to 3m1½f, on both good and soft ground. Makes relatively late switch to chasing. Can't be written off, but will need to find some improvement for the move.

Form: 1-12487

Senor Lombardy²⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 132| C| D

6/4

Won a bumper here two years ago (heavy) and followed up in a Kelso novices' hurdle (2m6½f, good). Didn't come close to that decent novices' hurdle form either over fences or hurdles last season. Would be a player if he can bounce back after a break.

Form: 112/4F8-

Trixster¹⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 129| BF| D

1/1

Triple winner over hurdles as a novice last season, at up to 2m7½f, and including on heavy. Remained a useful in handicaps towards the end of the season. Returns from a break for his chase debut, and no surprise to see him prove good enough.

Form: 211274-

Forecasts

Trixster (1/1), Senor Lombardy (6/4), Ard Chros (6/1), Cairnshill (20/1), Asking For Answers (33/1), Buddha Scheme (40/1)

An interesting contest awaits. Ard Chros appears to have the make-up to win over fences, but whether that will be first time remains to be seen. Buddha Scheme is another of interest, though again we will learn more after this race. Senor Lombardy would probably be the one to beat if back to his novices' hurdling form, and support for him would fuel confidence that he is ready for this. However, with not much to find on the form book and a little less to prove, perhaps TRIXSTER looks a safer bet, if there is such a thing on chase debut.