Betfred Manifesto Novices' Chase 2012

4.50 Aintree

Betfred Manifesto Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (5YO plus)

Winner £42,712

Advice: 4 pts win Al Ferof (11/10 general)

Al Ferof: Winner of last year’s Supreme Novice Hurdle, outstaying the field after final flight; That form worked out superbly since, and if anything he looked at least as good as he did over hurdles (running to a higher level of form) this year before laboured fourth in the Arkle Chase, although he was just being asked when belting the fourth last; Disappointing how he faded after that but step up in trip here should see him do better and stable in much better form going into this week than at Cheltenham (only 2 winners from 30 runners).

Cristal Bonus: High class at his best; Successful 4 times in France but best effort  came in defeat (second) in Grade 1 at Auteuil; Didn’t build on that in two runs here last season but beautiful round of jumping on debut for this yard at Chepstow and again at Kempton and disappointment at the Festival can be forgotten with yard straight now; Of interest.

Menorah: High class over hurdles (Supreme Novice, Greatwood, and International Hurdle winner) who’s taken his time with fences, unseating over fences on debut before making several blunders in two facile wins in novice events; Fell again in Doncaster Grade 2 but Arkle effort gives him a chance, for all that the trip’s an unknown for him.

Alasi: Excellent form this season, winning Grade 2 hurdle after twice winning easy novice chases; Unseated against Menorah before she had a chance to show what she could do and talented based on her fourth in the Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham; This much harder on form back chasing though.

Pepite Rose: Four from 4 over fences and one of the easiest wins of the season when barely coming off the bridle to land EBF final at Newbury last time out; Deserves to take her chance in this level after that and no reason to think that she couldn’t make her mark in this despite fact it’ll be a lot tougher.

VERDICT: AL FEROF was a big Cheltenham disappointment but his chase form before then reads well, he’s been looking for the step up in trip, his stable seem to be in better form this week, and going too soon forced him into an unfortunate blunder before he ever got a chance in the Arkle. He can reverse form with Menorah and beat the progressive wildcard mare Pepite Rose along with stablemate Cristal Bonus.