Henry VIII Novices' Chase 2012

1.55 Sandown

Markel Insurance Henry VIII Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £21,072

Advice: 4 pts double Captain Conan (1.55 Sandown, 1/2 general), Sprinter Sacre (3.05 Sandown, 4/9 general) (2.12 general)

1 pt Captain Conan –Third Intention straight forecast (6.25 Bet365)

Act Of Kalanisi: 136 rated hurdler; Built on jumping from Ascot debut to win at Leicester dropped to this trip in decisive fashion from fairly useful Ciceron but this is much harder and looks opposeable.

Captain Conan: Looked every inch a chaser when taking 2m Grade 1 novice on UK debut here last season and showed why when landing Grade 2 at Cheltenham in good style (had Third Intention 8l behind) on seasonal debut (runner up since won in very good style); Should come forward for that and take the beating here.

Escort’ Men: Not gone on from impressive win in Dovecote Hurdle around 2 years ago, gaining hard fought Listed handicap around a year ago; No wins from four over fences, failing to make it twice and pulling far too hard in defeat during the others; This far harder.

Third Intention: Possibly went for home bit too soon when second on chasing debut at Cheltenham before 8 length third to Captain Conan in Grade 2 last time; Shouldn’t be reversing that form but could easily make the forecast.

Hinterland: Decent juvenile hurdler last season (rated 141) and decisive winner off said mark on return at Chepstow over hurdles but desperately disappointing on return when pulling far too hard on Exeter (albeit second to a very useful winner) when failing to get proper cover in small field; Looks inferior to Captain Conan.

VERDICT: CAPTAIN CONAN has always looked like a chaser in the making and got off to the perfect start over fences at Cheltenham when winning a race that looked just as strong, if not stronger than, this one today and he looks rock solid even if unbackable in singles at ½. Doubling him up with star chaser Sprinter Sacre in the Tingle Creek later on, along with fellow novice chaser Oscars Well at Navan, looks to be the best option, with Third Intention suggested as the forecast value given Hinterland’s strong pulling tendencies.