Yorkshire Christmas Meeting Festive Fun Novices' Chase

Off time: 13:11 | Winning time: 6m 26.0s

Top Ville Ben^h³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 142| D

11/4

Front-runner who was smart on his day over hurdles and jumped well when beating a subsequent winner by 13L at Hexham last month. Penalty to overcome but did it well that day.

Form: 1PF8F-1

Coole Hall³¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| D

7/1

Chase debut today though has won a Point-to-point. Created a good impression over hurdles last season winning three times at up to 2m6f and held in high regard by connections.

Form: 2/12116-

Kilfilum Cross¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: C N Kellett| OR: 137| D

16/1

Dual hurdles winner at this trip for Kim Bailey in the spring and shaped well on chase debut in a hot contest at Uttoxeter recently for current trainer.

Form: 1/7211-4

Red Rising¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| CD

6/4

Shaped well on both starts over fences this term and this represents a drop in class from Huntingdon last time. Won here in bad ground over hurdles last winter and should be a player against these rivals.

Form: 121P-43

Uppertown Prince²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 140| D

10/3

Finished last season over hurdles with a creditable fourth in a Grade 1 novice at Aintree but better should have been expected on recent chase debut at Ayr and needs to build on that now.

Form: 12214-4

Forecasts

Red Rising (6/4), Top Ville Ben (11/4), Uppertown Prince (10/3), Coole Hall (7/1), Kilfilum Cross (16/1)

A fascinating contest and narrow preference goes to RED RISING who was in a strong race at Huntingdon last time though Top Ville Ben could take some pegging back judged on what we saw at Hexham on chase debut. Coole Hall is the type to do well at this game but has been found a hot race for chase debut.