Liverpool Echo Novices' Chase (Registered As The Altcar Novices' Chase)

2.40 Haydock
Liverpool Echo Novices' Chase (Registered As The Altcar Novices' Chase) (Grade 2) (Class 1) (5YO plus)
Winner £13,340

Pick: Wymott (win)

Wishfull Thinking: 3-time winning hurdler (unlucky to fall when holding serious claims in Coral Cup at the festival) who has who has quickly recovered from a fall on his chase debut to win Grade 2 at Wincanton and finish second to Reve de Sivola at Cheltenham (poor trip; hampered); Every chance here but giving away 4lbs and upwards will not help his chances.

Cape Tribulation: Arguably the best of these over hurdles with a fourth in the Christmas Hurdle and second in the Reelkeel; Made a made promising start to chase career with success at Hexham but ran badly upped in class last time.

Robinson Collonges: Hacked up at Bangor in debut before unlucky fall behind Whishfull Thinking in Grade 2; Easy win again at Hereford before a bad mistake 3 out ruined his chances in the December Gold Cup; Not given hard time afterwards and big chance here.

The Giant Bolster: Proved an absolute revelation when sixth in the Neptune and was crying out for the longer trip on that evidence; Made excellent start to fencing when winning by 11 lengths and was still well there when falling in good race Cheltenham last time; Overpriced.

Wymott: Grade 2 winner over hurdles last season (with a Grade 1 winner behind in Wayward Prince) who has made perfect start to fencing this year, beating useful field with ease at Bangor and then being able to give a stone in weight to next time out winner Shalimar Fromentro and subsequent winner Adams Island in third; Gets weight all round and should be tough to beat.

VERDICT: A smart renewal of a very useful race. Robinson Collonges ran a big race in the December Gold Cup and should be happier in this small field, while Whishfull Thinking is a useful horse too, but they’ll have a hard task giving weight to WYMOTT, who impressed with his jumping and attitude when giving about a stone to two subsequent winners at Exeter last time. The Giant Bolster may be overpriced based on his two chase starts so far.