Paxtons Exclusively Kverneland Chase (Limited Handicap)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 6m 56.5s

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Selected odds by:

Blue Flight¹⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Callum Bewley| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 151| C

3/1

Has earned two of his four wins here over 2m7½f, and ran well over C&D in March, when second from 5lb lower. Went on to be 4¼L fourth in the Scottish National when last seen in April. Acts on good to soft. Stable in good form. Should go well.

Form: 311124-

One For Arthur^t²⁰³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 151| CD

10/1

Won this in 2016 on route to landing the 2017 Grand National winner. Then missed a season and, after unseating twice last term, put in a respectable effort to be sixth in this year's National. 3lb drop should help. Goes well fresh. Not ruled out.

Form: 511/UU6-

Vintage Clouds¹⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 147| BF| D

11/2

Hardy National Hunt perennial who is largely very consistent. Below his best when last seen in the Scottish National (sixth, behind Blue Flight) but had run a cracker in the Ultima at Cheltenham, when 3lb lower. Goes very well fresh. Player.

Form: 3/1P2F6-

Dandy Dan^t¹⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ned Curtis⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 145| BF| CD

6/4

Completed a hat-trick over fences last season, including when dotting up in this contest by 13L, when 13lb lower. Acts on good to soft. Up another 3lb for this reappearance, but yard in cracking form, and more improvement looks possible.

Form: 231112-

Sharp Response²⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 140| D

16/1

3-9 over fences, and was last seen winning Catterick's North Yorkshire Grand National (3m6f, good) in January by 5L, when 6lb lower. Could still give him a chance if in that form, and can go well fresh. Market check.

Form: 418441-

Amalfi Doug⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 137

7/1

Has been very consistent in six runs for this trainer, all at Perth, winning four of those from 2m4f-3m, on good through to heavy. Up another 12lb here and also in better company, so will need improvement for another step up in trip to win again.

Form: 112211

Mysteree^b²⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 133

10/1

Former Eider Chase winner who stays exteme trips in testing ground. Went close in this year's Eider when last seen in February. Up 6lb for that, and goes well fresh, but no surprise if he finds it tough over this trip and on less testing ground.

Form: P3/P092-

Non-Runners

Jonniesofa⁶⁶⁵

Weight: 10-6| Age: 9

T: R Dobbin J: Craig Nichol

Forecasts

Dandy Dan (6/4), Blue Flight (3/1), Vintage Clouds (11/2), Amalfi Doug (7/1), Mysteree (10/1), One For Arthur (10/1), Sharp Response (16/1), Jonniesofa (20/1)

A fascinating contest in prospect and it's a race that has been won by the favourite in all it's last four renewals. Jonniesofa could make a mockery of the race, if retaining all his previous ability after a long absence, but it is risky siding with him against those whose well being is not in doubt. Last year's winner DANDY DAN represents a yard in great nick and he looks open to more improvement, so is the selection. Blue Flight is feared, but may not quite have the same scope from this mark, while One For Arthur would be very interesting if ready first time back. The handicapper could catch up with Amalfi Doug this time, but the admirable Vintage Clouds is not ruled out.