Ladbrokes Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (Registered As The Berkshire Novices' Chase)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 58.0s

Adrien Du Pont^t⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143

7/1

High grade hurdler that made a solid start to his chasing career when winning with plenty in hand at Fontwell on October, form that looks solid with the fifth winning a good handicap since. Needs more here but clearly on the upgrade.

Form: 1/43UP-1

Battle Anthem²⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: L P Aspell| T: R Rowe

100/1

Three times a point-to-point winner but it's only low-grade stuff, and nowhere near what's required to get near the principals here. Will win races, but it's unlikely to be today.

Form: 113231-

Western Miller^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: R Johnson| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 141| D

14/1

Has some chasing experience under his belt and has performed with credit, but it's only handicap form and he needs another major leap forward to challenge the big two here. Yard very quiet at present too, and others readily preferred.

Form: 541F22

Willoughby Court²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 150| D

15/8

Top class hurdler, winner of the Neptune at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival, and made a satisfactory start to his chasing career at Huntingdon last month. Should have learnt from that, and return left-handed a plus, so has to be high on the shortlist.

Form: 5/2111-1

Yanworth¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Geraghty| T: A King| BF| C| D

4/5

Top quality hurdler, winner of the Stayers Hurdle at Aintree this year and clear this sort of trip suits better than shorter now. Possibly unlucky to fall last time out and if confidence not shaken from that, looks the one to beat here.

Form: 11D1-1F

Forecasts

Yanworth (4/5), Willoughby Court (15/8), Adrien Du Pont (7/1), Western Miller (14/1), Battle Anthem (100/1)

A mouthwatering clash between two of last years top hurdlers, now tackling fences, and both have their positives and negatives. In the case of Yanworth, he needs to show that fall last time hasn't affected his confidence, and for Willoughby Court, he will need to fence with more fluency than was the case at Huntingdon. Going back left-handed may help in that regard, but it's clear neither are bombproof and ADRIEN DU PONT is taken to cause a bit of a surprise. Paul NIcholls has won this twice in the last four years and Adrien Du Pont, who has always looked the sort to make a better chaser, might provide him with a third after a good debut at Fontwell, where he jumped well, and looked a natural.