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

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 4m 57.4s

Black Op^t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 152| D

9/2

Grade 1 winner over hurdles a couple of seasons ago before having a stop-start year last term. Bounced back in fine style with 15L victory at Stratford (2m5f) and could now be back to his best. Solid claims.

Form: 33304-1

Champ²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 152| C| D

4/5

Proved to be a top-class novice hurdler last season, winning Grade 1 Challow here and Sefton Hurdle at Aintree (3m) along with a second in the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival (soft). Perfect chasing debut over 2m6f here. The one to beat.

Form: 11121-1

Dashel Drasher²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 145| C| D

8/1

Ratted up a quick fire four-timer last season, culminating with good success over 2m4f at Cheltenham (good) in April. Not disgraced into finishing second to Champ on chase last time but that rival likely to have the measure of him again.

Form: 41111-2

Deyrann de Carjac²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 143| D

16/1

Fair novice hurdler last season and made a very good start over fences when winning at Huntingdon (2m4f) earlier this month. Second has subsequently come out and won but this race requires another step up.

Form: F225-11

Mont Des Avaloirs²³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137WS

20/1

Best effort came in intermediate hurdle here (2m) last season but not as good since, including when pulling up in 2m4f Grade 3 at the Grand National meeting. Not seen since April and has had wind surgery but tough ask on chase debut.

Form: 4/2307P-

Vision Des Flos^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 155

5/1

Grade 2 hurdle winner who has been tried over fences before. Made respectable return when third to Top Notch at Aintree (2m4f) this month and is thrown back over fences. Entitled to place consideration.

Form: 2310-63

Forecasts

Champ (4/5), Black Op (9/2), Vision Des Flos (5/1), Dashel Drasher (8/1), Deyrann de Carjac (16/1), Mont Des Avaloirs (20/1)

CHAMP took the highest order in novice company last season and put in a highly encouraging debut at this track earlier this month, jumping with fluency when not fully wound up. He should be able to take this contest on the way to loftier targets and is set to be Britain's leading staying novice chaser this term. Black Op bounced back to his very best last time after a truncated season but even that form may just fall short of the top level, while Vision Des Flos is a classy sort whose jumping will need to hold up back on his return to fences.