MansionBet Novices' Chase

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 4m 4.80s

First Drift¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 130| CD

15/8

Fair sort, winner of 5-10 including surprise win on second chase start over C&D last time. Showed good attitude that day but has to concede weight here in a better race.

Form: 5112-P1

Charming Zen³²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: N D Fehily| T: O Murphy| OR: 136

7/4

Landed Doncaster novice hurdle for Nicky Henderson 23 months ago. Well beaten on stable debut for current yard in Kempton handicap hurdle a year ago, then fell when in touch at Exeter a month later. 11 months absence to overcome but yard in form.

Form: 11/7F-

Go Long¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 127

15/8

Doncaster novice hurdle winner back in November 2015 but very lightly raced since and has obviously had issues. Promising chasing bow when close third at Haydock 11 days ago and could be more to come if recovered from those exertions.

Form: 12P/43-3

The Hiking Viking^h³⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P R Webber

50/1

£20,000 Beat Hollow gelding whow as tailed off in a bumper on debut at Kempton in February 2017, then in at the deep end when well beaten in Doncaster novice hurdle 13 months ago. Fitness may be an issue on novice chasing bow.

Form: 7/7-

Waitinonasunnyday²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: M Blake| OR: 71

80/1

Only respectable effort came when second in modest Towcester handicap hurdle last April. Well beaten on seasonal return and looks up against it on chasing debut.

Form: PP52-76

Sprogzilla⁸⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: H James

66/1

Modest veteran maiden handicap hurdler making belated chasing bow. Has a stiff task on all known form and is hard to recommend.

Form: 8-44637

Forecasts

Charming Zen (7/4), Go Long (15/8), First Drift (15/8), The Hiking Viking (50/1), Sprogzilla (66/1), Waitinonasunnyday (80/1)

FIRST DRIFT turned in a decent performance when making a winning chasing bow over C&D 18 days ago and can follow up under his penalty. Both Charming Zen and The HIking Viking have been difficult to train but have shown ability and could prove dangerous if fit enough following their respective absences, while Go Long should win a race or two in this sphere and might give them all something to think about after a promising third at Haydock just beofre Christmas.