Marlene McPherson 65th Birthday Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:48 | Winning time: 6m 24.01s

Gold Cup Bailly^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: D A Jacob| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 136| C| D

6/4

Lightly-raced 7-y-o who is 2-2 over fences this season, namely a Wexford maiden in October and an Ayr novice handicap in November (both around 2½m). Likely capable of even better now stepping back up in trip.

Form: 132/3-11

Omar Maretti²⁹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: A M Hales| OR: 136| D

6/1

Dual point winner who bagged 4 of his first 5 starts under Rules, including pair of small-field handicap chases around 3m last season. Found Kim Muir at Cheltenham too much when last seen in March but should be competitive in this on return.

Form: 11/211P-

Marown⁶⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 130| C| D

4/1

Dual novice chase winner in 2020/21. Never really got going last season but mark has fallen as a result and took a step back in the right direction when runner-up at Ayr on return in October.

Form: 19/P43-2

Your Own Story⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 117| D

2/1

Dual point scorer who confirmed his hurdling debut promise when landing a 6-runner novice at Carlisle (25f) in March. Made an encouraging seasonal/chasing debut when runner-up at Aintree and ran just as well when fourth at Haydock. Not taken lightly.

Form: 1315-24

Forecasts

Gold Cup Bailly (6/4), Your Own Story (2/1), Marown (4/1), Omar Maretti (6/1)

GOLD CUP BAILLY made it 2 from 2 as a chaser in likeable fashion here 5 weeks ago, accounting for another that was probably ahead of his mark with the pair a long way clear of the rest, and he's taken to complete the hat-trick with this longer trip unlikely to be an issue. Marown is lurking on a dangerous mark if able to build on his decent comeback second here in October, so rates the main threat.