Follow At The Races On Twitter Novices' Chase

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 4m 54.3s

Knocknanuss³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 148| C

9/4

Earned quotes of 33/1 for the Arkle with a slick round of jumping to score at Newbury. Taking on better horses here but his experience of fences and this track will stand him well.

Form: 1P4-F11

Master Dino^t1³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: G Macaire

11/10

Top notch French hurdler who has two Grade 1 victories in a 9-18 record. Scored by 30L on chase debut and represents a top yard with a 24-104 career record when raiding these shores.

Form: 311111

Glenloe²⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: G Elliott| BF

7/1

Went down by the minimum margin in last year's Pertemps Final at Cheltenham. Rare runner here for his astute trainer but his lack of a run and chasing experience, plus this short trip, make this a tough test.

Form: 5/22325-

Good Man Pat²⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 135

16/1

Improved as a hurdler when stepping up to 3m and has always looked a chasing type. This trip against some speedy types looks likely to find him out.

Form: 22411P-

Onefortheroadtom²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: H Fry| OR: 130

33/1

Bought for £100,000 after winning lone point-to-point in April 2017 he won one of his four starts over hurdles last term as well as an AW bumper. Very much bred and bought for fences but looks out of his depth here.

Form: 3516-65

Slate House^t²⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 141

7/1

£260,000 purchase bought for chasing who looked a top-class prospect when landing his first two hurdle races, but ultimately found wanting at the highest level. Has winning point-to-point form and stable 6-26 here with chasers.

Form: 1145F8-

Forecasts

Master Dino (11/10), Knocknanuss (9/4), Slate House (7/1), Glenloe (7/1), Good Man Pat (16/1), Onefortheroadtom (33/1)

It is hard to remember any previous races here that could have a bearing on Festival season but this event could easily unveil a future Grade 1 chase winner. French raider Master Dino adds a touch of spice given his hurdling exploits in France and a wide margin chase success at Auteuil. The question for him is his ability on less testing ground in a race where KNOCKANUSS is going to post some testing fractions. Gary Moore's charge has a stiff task under his penalty but his pace and slick jumping will provide a stern examination for his rivals. Slate House and Glenloe were better hurdlers than the selection, but both will need to be on top of their game for their initial run of the campaign,.