1.55 Sandown
Markel Insurance Henry VIII Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Class
1) (4YO plus)
Winner £20,787
Advice: 4 pts win Al Ferof (4/6 Betfred, Totesport), 1 pt
win Eradicate w/o Al Ferof (9/4 Paddy Power)
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; Looks as if he could be as good over fences when
romping away with Grade 1 at Cheltenham and presented with similar task here. 
Eradicate: High class over hurdles, winning the Swinton
Hurdle (retaining his title)by eight lengths on last start over hurdles; Denied
by promising stablemate of Al Ferof in two runner race here and should learn
for his error strewn round when beating only two other rivals with ease at
Doncaster but still retains promise for fences. 
For Non Stop: Progressive over hurdles, winning easily at
Chepstow before running into Grands Crus and then falling when set to take a
big hand in the Coral Cup; Fell when going well at Cheltenham over fences and
while he holds promise over fences, the drop back to this trip asks quite a few
questions of him. 
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 stablemate of Al Ferof: Solid sort who should go well here. 
Lidar: Major underachiever over hurdles following excellent
bumper campaign and hard to argue that he didn’t have the race fall into his
lap when getting off the mark at Newbury latest; This far harder. 
Megastar: Promise over bumpers and then over hurdles but never
quite fulfilled potential (had a slightly weak finish); Proven very disappointing
in the jumping department over fences so far and must improve on that if he’s
to take a hand here. 
Ultimate: Gained a deserved win when making a nice start to
chasing, beating classy Australia Day with ease; Held in Greatwood Hurdle but
still an interesting sort over fences.
VERDICT: Plenty of intriguing types but in all likeliness
nothing as good as AL FEROF, who was so impressive on his chasing debut when
winning easily at Cheltenham. This represents a similar task for last year’s
Supreme Novice Hurdle winner, who can get the better of Eradicate and Lancetto.
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