Use The racingtv.com Tracker Novices' Chase

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 7.6s

Esprit De Somoza²²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 133| BF| D

16/1

Not reached the level he could have done over hurdles and finished last season with 35L defeat at Exeter (2m). Tough ask on chasing and stable debut.

Form: 0/65410-

Mon Port¹⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 124| CD

33/1

Impressive with two novice hurdle victories last season but offered little on chasing debut when beaten 31L at Sedgefield in May. Stablemate is better fancied.

Form: 23511-3

Thomas Darby²⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy| OR: 151| D

8/11

Talented hurdler who finished last season with highly respectable second in Grade One Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Sets the form standard on chasing debut and hard not to fancy.

Form: 112312-

Maire Banrigh^t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137

6/4

Took unbeaten record to three since having wind surgery with 15L victory on chase debut at Stratford (2m1f) last month. Still an unknown prospect and looks to be main rival.

Form: 187/11-1

Belargus²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: W T Kennedy| T: N J Gifford| OR: 125| D

25/1

Last win came at Ascot in February but well beaten in two starts since, including 24L defeat in 2m Chepstow hurdle in October. Needs a bounce back now.

Form: 561-97

Forecasts

Thomas Darby (8/11), Maire Banrigh (6/4), Esprit De Somoza (16/1), Belargus (25/1), Mon Port (33/1)

It's hard to get away from Thomas Darby given his form line with his Cheltenham Festival second. Not seen since then, he has been given time to mature and looked every inch a chaser in the making last season. Maire Banrigh has hosed up in her last three starts and looks to be the stiffest of the opposition, while if Esprit De Somoza bounced back to his best form he may be able to challenge for second place.