Open Meeting 2011 - November 2011

1.10 Cheltenham

Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase (Registered As The November Novices' Chase) (Grade 2) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £13,668

Advice: 2 pts win Al Ferof (evs Paddy Power)

Lancetto: Switch of yards along with start to chasing has seen him win twice, following up Newton Abbot success with win at October meeting over Toubab; Solid sort but badly in with Paul Nicholls’s now race – fit charge, who had looked like winning for long way that day.

Bellvano: Showed plenty of ability over hurdles, second to Menorah in 2009; Beaten at 1/5 on chasing debut but much more like it at Punchestown when winning solid enough novice chase (rallied better than he usually does); Can’t deny interest in him at his best although this a stiff test of his abilities.

Delphi Mountain: Quite impressive on chasing debut when beating useful yardstick with a fair bit in hand at Killarney and solid run over hurdles when second to Princeton Plains at Listowel; Interesting here.

Al Ferof: Just improved again and again with experience over hurdles after successful bumper season, completing hat – trick with Supreme Novices Hurdle win at the Festival, coming right away from subsequent Grade 2 winner Spirit Son (form looks strong enough); Should take the beating if taking to fences.

 

Astracad: Useful hurdler, rated 140 at his peak; Impressive on debut at Perth although had the benefit of superior hurdler Champion Court then unseating and well behind that horse when third at Aintree; Drop back to 2 miles a possible worry.

 

Court In Session: Showed tremendous attitude to make all and land maiden hurdle here at October before coming home well clear at Ascot; Clearly useful but this a big step up on both efforts and harder to run this field ragged.

L’Eldorado: Better chaser than hurdler but that in two extremely poor contests (nothing gave him a race last time when the odds on favourite disappointed) and this probably flying too high.

Maggio:  Encouraging second on chasing debut this month at Musselburgh but brushed aside the last time that he raced in Graded company and this similar.

Toubab: Didn’t quite go on from his impressive win in Haydock novice last season but that not without decent efforts (unsuited by heavy ground the next twice); Good chase debut when looking set to win for a long time at October meeting and then swimming late on when caught by Lancetto; Better off with that horse and interesting here although might need a stronger gallop.

VERDICT: AL FEROF is a serious recruit to the chasing scene if you take a look at his previous hurdles efforts even before his Supreme Novice Hurdle win and if ready for this assignment, should take a lot of beating for a trainer who farms this event. The yard’s second string Toubab should go well, while Bellvano’s improved attitude makes him a very interesting prospect and a tempting each/way prospect at 9’s.