Robert Baskerville Memorial Mares' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 6m 8.35s

Black Tulip³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 110| D

5/2

Fairly useful hurdles winner who ran creditably on return from 7 months off over fences when third in a 20f mares' handicap here in September. Claims for all she remains a maiden in this sphere.

Form: 3/33P2-3

Ballybough Nora^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 110

10/3

Fair winning hurdler who ran well to be placed both completed starts over fences last term. Likely her Chepstow return 3 weeks ago was needed and fancied to be back to best here.

Form: 7P3P2-6

Overawed²⁷⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 109| CD

14/1

Improved performer last season landing C&D/Ludlow handicaps to kick off the campaign. Below her best back at this venue in January but she's not discounted, particularly arriving fresh.

Form: 34/1125-

Nautical Twilight^b²⁸⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Alexander Fielding⁽⁷⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 108

40/1

Ended losing run on debut for Neil King at Southwell (20f) on return last winter and largely creditable efforts over fences thereafter. Below par over hurdles final start and returns for new yard now.

Form: 3133F9-

Liffeydale Dreamer^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 105| D

10/1

Fair hurdles winner who failed to make an impact from a 5 lb higher mark on chase debut at Fakenham (21f) 2 weeks ago. This should reveal more.

Form: P0-2173

Grania O'Malley²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 96| C

4/1

Out of sorts over both sets of obstacles since returning to action in July, weakening some way out over hurdles at Ffos Las (20f) at the start of the month. Mark continues to ease at least.

Form: 4-80859

Arqalina²⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 94

7/2

Hurdles/chase winner who was seemingly not 100% at Exeter when last seen in January. Remains low-mileage in this sphere and returns with yard amongst the winners, so she's worth considering.

Form: 619/14P-

Forecasts

Black Tulip (5/2), Ballybough Nora (10/3), Arqalina (7/2), Grania O'Malley (4/1), Liffeydale Dreamer (10/1), Overawed (14/1), Nautical Twilight (40/1)

An interesting mares' event with the vote in favour of Jeremy Scott's BALLYBOUGH NORA. She twice ran well from this sort of mark over fences last term and, with her reappearance spin under her belt, can be expected to be right back to her best now. Arqalina is a low-mileage sort and may well resume progress this term, whilst Black Tulip is also a player for all she's become frustrating to follow.