Equine Lens Novices' Chase

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 5m 11.90s

Gibralfaro¹⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 140

4/1

Kept decent company over hurdles last term, but was unable to build upon his promising juvenile campaign the previous year. Ended the season disappointingly after a reasonable start, and now tries fences for the first time in public.

Form: 3326F8-

Modus^h¹⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: P F Nicholls

2/9

A talented performer who finished runner up to North Hill Harvey in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham (November) prior to winning the Lanzarote at Kempton in January (2m5f Listed). Makes his chasing debut every inch a fascinating prospect.

Form: 327165-

Midnight Target^h1,t1²¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 105

25/1

A likeable lightly raced mare who performed with consistency over hurdles at Ludlow last winter. Wears the first time hood and tongue tie for her chasing debut, but surely well out of her depth (barring accidents) against these rivals.

Form: 53/1362-

Forecasts

Modus (2/9), Gibralfaro (4/1), Midnight Target (25/1)

Paul Nicholls has found the ideal race for MODUS to kick-start his career over fences. He has been a most promising horse from early on in his career, and he showed his immense class in competitive hurdle contests last term, finishing a runner up in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in November prior to taking the Listed Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton in January. He is far superior to these rivals over hurdles, and the combination of a Flat track and easy fences should see him off to a winning start over the larger obstacles.