Read Road To Cheltenham At racingtv.com Henry VIII Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:52 | Winning time: 3m 59.70s

Esprit Du Large²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 144| D

14/1

Built upon promising runner-up effort at Carlisle (2m; good to soft) when going one better at Exeter (2m3f; soft) last month. Did that well enough in beating a 139-rated rival. This is a step up in class but he could go well at a price.

Form: 1410-21

Grand Sancy^h²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 152| D

9/2

Pushed the exciting Champion Hurdle contender Fusil Raffles in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton (1m7f; good to soft) last time. Pitched into the deep end on chasing bow, but likely to be bang there given the level of ability he showed over hurdles.

Form: 4210-F2

Nube Negra^t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 146| D

9/2

Strong traveller who followed up impressive chasing debut success at Warwick (2m; good) when making light work of short price favouritism (2/5f) at Fakenham (2m; good). Dangerous if allowed to lead around a track which will play to his strengths.

Form: 8B36-11

Return Ticket⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 130| D

33/1

Talented sort but was a distant third on seasonal/chasing debut behind Sam Spinner (1st) & Beakstown (2nd) at Wetherby (2m3f; good to soft) in October. Interesting that stable send him here, but on form he looks to be up against it.

Form: 1/1612-3

Summerville Boy³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 153| CD

11/4

Last year was a washout, but he got his act together on seasonal/chasing debut at Uttoxeter (2m; soft) to beat both First Flow & Western Ryder. Won going away then, and likely to give it his all despite having to concede 6lb to Torpillo.

Form: 1/474-61

Torpillo^h¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 147| CD

13/8

Bounced back from Cheltenham (2m; heavy) disappointment to beat a good field including Mister Fisher & Lisp on his chase debut at Warwick (2m; soft). That form has recently been franked & he receives a handy weight-for-age allowance.

Form: 140-131

Non-Runners

Beakstown³⁰

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Torpillo (13/8), Summerville Boy (11/4), Nube Negra (9/2), Grand Sancy (9/2), Esprit Du Large (14/1), Beakstown (25/1), Return Ticket (33/1)

A good renewal of this Grade 1, with a plethora of talent on show including Summerville Boy who won a Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Nube Negra has made an impressive start to his chasing career, and despite the marked rise in grade, he would be dangerous to dismiss with the speedy nature of this track likely to play to his strengths. Despite blowing up two starts ago, Torpillo bounced back in good style when making a winning chasing debut, and he receives weight all round. However, the selection is GRAND SANCY who makes his chasing debut in a Grade 1, but was a 152-rated hurdler. If able to translate that ability to fences he could spring a minor surprise.