Betfred Goals Galore Novices' Chase (For The Hallowe'en Trophy) 2011

2.05 Newbury

Betfred Goals Galore Novices' Chase (For The Hallowe'en Trophy) (Class 3)  (4YO plus)

Winner £7,148

Advice: 1 pt win For Non Stop (11/4 general)

Cue Card: Star bumper horse and then good novice hurdler (disappointed some after impressive win in Grade 2 hurdle), fourth in the Supreme Novices Hurdle and then second at Aintree (not helped by unwillingness to settle); Impressive debut win followed by fall at Cheltenham when still going OK and only just unable to give 7lbs and a beating to the useful Bobs Worth; Should go well here.

Walkon: Top class juvenile hurdler in excellent crop before injury intervened, and disappointed after excellent comeback over hurdles last season; Right back to best when romping to chase win at Exeter last time out, with 6 lengths to spare over Zanyar (easy Grade 2 winner) and Grade 1 runner up Notus De La Tour; Big chance on that.

 

Criqtonic: Deeply impressive when trouncing his field in Auteil novice chase on last start for Gulliame Macaire; That form not worked out great but yard has won 4 renewals of this in recent years so must be respected for top yard who have won it 5 times since 2001.

For Non Stop: Progressive over hurdles, winning easily at Chepstow before running into Grands Crus and then falling when set for second in the Coral Cup; Fell when going well at Cheltenham on chasing debut and used useful spin at Ascot in Grade 2 to push For Non Stop all the way in Henry VII Novice Chase at Sandown; Should go really well.

Minella Class: Useful over hurdles, winning on good ground here before hacking up in Tolowrth Hurdle on heavy; Not quite back to best since then, disappointing over hurdles twice before satisfactory debut behind class act over fences; Got a ton of weight that day which tempered enthusiasm over his chances but respected.

VERDICT: One of the best novice chases run all season. Walkon and Cue Card both have tremendous scope as chasers, but also a very tough task giving 6lbs and upwards to FOR NON STOP, Criqtonic, and Minella Class. Nick Williams’s horse pushed Al Ferof all the way in the Henry VII Novice Chase and as such earns the vote, although all 5 have a good shout.