BARONERACING.COM Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 6m 40.8s

Melon^p³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 162

1/1

High-class chaser. Latest win in chase at Gowran in February. Below-par fifth of 7 to Allaho in Ryanair Chase (Festival Trophy) (16/1) at Cheltenham (20.6f, good to soft) 31 days ago. Big player back in these calmer waters.

Form: PP-3415

Cusp Of Carabelli²⁰⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: R P Treacy| T: D M O'Brien| OR: 130

50/1

Fairly useful chaser. 16/1, eleventh of 17 in handicap hurdle at Listowel (24f, good to soft). Off 6 months and easy to look elsewhere in this grade.

Form: 016-280

Daly Tiger³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: N Meade| OR: 155

9/2

Smart chaser. 80/1, below form twelfth of 23 in handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (21f, soft) 32 days ago. Switches to chasing with plenty more required.

Form: 5-21440

Doctor Duffy^v³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Phillip Enright| T: C Byrnes| OR: 141| C

7/1

Useful chaser. Pulled up in handicap chase (33/1) at Cheltenham (25f, good) 33 days ago. Visor back on with lots on his plate.

Form: 2008UP

Minella Times^t⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 158

5/2

Smart chaser. 9/1, fell at first Valentine's in Grand National at Aintree only 8 days ago. Yet to complete now in three runs this term since landing last year's Aintree showpiece.

Form: 221-FPB

Non-Runners

The Shunter³²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: E Mullins J: Simon Torrens

Darrens Hope¹⁴

Weight: 10-3| Age: 8

T: R Murphy J: J J Slevin

Forecasts

Melon (1/1), Minella Times (5/2), Daly Tiger (9/2), The Shunter (6/1), Doctor Duffy (7/1), Darrens Hope (25/1), Cusp Of Carabelli (50/1)

MELON has a lot less on his plate than when a well-held fifth in the Ryanair Chase last month and is fancied to quickly regain winning ways. The Shunter has the form to play a big part too if back on song now reverted to fences, with 2021 Grand National hero Minella Times also in the mix if none the worse for his fall in this year's renewal.