Network Healthcare Novices' Chase

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 6m 33.6s

Rock The Kasbah¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 144

2/1

Winner here back in October and finished runner-up in a four runner Grade 2 contest at Ascot on his penultimate start. Has a 50% strike rate (4/8) on the likely going and should go well again here.

Form: 132412

Missed Approach¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: L P Aspell| T: W Greatrex| OR: 145

6/4

Won comfortably at the second attempt over obstacles at Lingfield last month (runner-up won since) but disappointed when sent off favourite for a Grade 2 contest over 3m at Wetherby subsequently. Likely to prove hard to beat here if putting that latest poor effort behind him.

Form: 2-413U2

Mystical Knight^t⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonathan Moore⁽³⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 139

5/2

Wearing a first time tongue tie when winner of his penultimate outing at Hereford over 3m1f but disappointingly pulled up in a listed event at Warwick last time out. Stays well and won half of his six rules outings to date and looks to have a decent chance if reproducing that Hereford performance.

Form: 21P-1P3

Nesterenko⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 135

16/1

Making his debut for this yard when well beaten behind a promising rival on chasing debut over 2m5f last month. Yard in decent form with a strike rate of 25% in recent weeks (6/24) but a bit to prove at present.

Form: 2U616-1

Swincombe Scorchio^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Gundry

100/1

Point-to-point winner in 2016 but well beaten in two novice chase outings to date, including when finishing tailed off behind Mystical Knight at Hereford. Likely to be seen to better effect once sent handicapping.

Form: 2/54214-

Non-Runners

Oscars Way⁶⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: Mark Gillard J: Theo Gillard

Forecasts

Missed Approach (6/4), Rock The Kasbah (2/1), Mystical Knight (5/2), Nesterenko (16/1), Swincombe Scorchio (100/1), Oscars Way (100/1)

MISSED APPROACH is receiving 6lb from his chief rival in this small field novices event and can put a poor run in a graded event at Wetherby behind him by claiming this. The form of the selections chase success at Lingfield has worked out well enough and he can get the better of Rock The Kasbah who has to give weight away all round while Mystical Knight looks the most likely to claim third having seen off a subsequent winner at Hereford in December 1. Missed Approach 2. Rock The Kasbah 3. Mystical Knight