Robert Baskerville 2019-2020 Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 5m 33.7s

Shannon Bridge^p,t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 128WS

13/2

Represents an in-form yard, but he is 0-4 over fences and was pulled-up at Chepstow (2m7f; soft) on his second run of the season. Starting to look well-handicapped, but must show more enthusiasm before he can be fancied.

Form: 3578-3P

Evidence De Thaix⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 127| D

5/2

Back in against the geldings after scoring in pretty comfortable fashion at Warwick (2m4f; soft) in a mares novices' handicap chase on debut over fences. Up 7lb but could still be a fair bit better than her current mark.

Form: 1/21P9-1

Diamond Fort²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125| D

6/1

Rated 125 over hurdles, and was in the process of running an okay race before falling at Chepstow (2m7f; soft) on seasonal reappearance. Now drops back in trip, and could finish in the placings if none the worse.

Form: 94255-F

Rosmuc Relay⁶⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 125| BF| D

9/2

Looked smart in winning a pair of novice hurdles prior to being pulled-up at Bangor-On-Dee (2m7f; soft) in March 2018. Connections evidently keen to send him over a fence as he is immediately sent chasing on return from 647-day absence.

Form: 3111P/

Never Equalled^b²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 114| D

16/1

Better known as a hurdler than a chaser. Not completed over fences since March 2017 (pulled-up at Chepstow in April). Did win two starts ago, but in nowhere near the same form when beaten a long way into fourth last time.

Form: P2-5U14

Storm Wizard¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 110| BF| D

2/1

Unexposed and was only just denied when attempting to follow-up his Bangor-On-Dee (2m4f; heavy) success when runner-up over 3m here just 11 days ago. 6lb higher but retains plenty of potential and should be bang there at the finish.

Form: 096U-12

Forecasts

Storm Wizard (2/1), Evidence De Thaix (5/2), Rosmuc Relay (9/2), Diamond Fort (6/1), Shannon Bridge (13/2), Never Equalled (16/1)

A fascinating contest in the offing with the selection being the only mare in the field in the shape of EVIDENCE DE THAIX. The selection bounced back in resurgent style on her seasonal reappearance when making a winning chase debut in very likeable fashion. She has been put up 7lb as a consequence of that, but she is lightly raced and there is every possibility she could still be better than a mark of 127.Rosmuc Relay is a fascinating contender on return from a long break, as he looked smart before suffering injury. How fit he is remains open to question. Storm Wizard is also a big player as he drops in trip after narrowly being turned over at this track most recently.