GC Rickards Mares' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:37 | Winning time: 4m 59.52s

Regal Renaissance⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 110| BF| C| D

6/5

Course regular (dual winner) who has eased in the weights and ran best for a while when second over fences at Stratford (19.5f) 6 weeks ago, making up plenty of ground and just undone by one who got first run. Nudged up 2 lb but big player with a repeat.

Form: 2/23F42-

Northern Symphonie^p1⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: James Best| T: H Dickin| OR: 102WS

10/1

Rattled off a quick-fire hurdles hat-trick for Keiran Burke this time last year but underwhelming in trio of starts in that sphere since joining present yard. Switches to larger obstacles now with cheekpieces added but she has it to prove on back of a breathing operation.

Form: 1/12P60-

Northern Air^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 100

6/1

Maiden hurdle winner for Fergal O'Brien. Failed to progress in 3 chase starts for Dan Skelton but did at least return to form back over hurdles when second in mares handicap at Newton Abbot (17f) 5 weeks ago. Task is to build on that back over fences.

Form: 1P/44P2-

Claim Du Brizais^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 96| BF

13/8

Bumper/hurdles winner who finished an eye-catching third over fences at Warwick (2½m) on penultimate start. Didn't shape so well when fourth back over same C&D 17 days ago but strong suspicion she can do better still as a chaser.

Form: 337634-

Ezmerellda^b1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Price| T: S-J Davies| OR: 71

40/1

Modest hurdler at best for Alan King but has lost her way, no upturn for switch to chasing when well held at Ffos Las (19.4f) 4 weeks ago. Blinkers go on in place of cheekpieces but she looks set for another struggle from long way out of the weights.

Form: 4/F4P09-

Forecasts

Regal Renaissance (6/5), Claim Du Brizais (13/8), Northern Air (6/1), Northern Symphonie (10/1), Ezmerellda (40/1)

CLAIM DU BRIZAIS leaves the firm impression we've yet to see all she has to offer as a chaser and having caught the eye on her penultimate start at Warwick, is fancied to prove her current mark an exploitable one. Dual course winner Regal Renaissance ran well when second at Stratford 6 weeks ago and comfortably rates the chief threat.