Sodexo Reynoldstown Novices' Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 6m 20.80s

Danny Whizzbang^t⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147| D

11/2

Unbeaten over hurdles (2-2); made a promising start to his chasing career when beating Reserve Tank by 4L in a Gr 2 at Newbury (2m7½f, gd/sft); finished third (beaten over 20L) in the Gr 1 Kauto Star at Kempton (3m, soft) on Boxing Day.

Form: P1/11-13

Sam Brown²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 152| D

2/1

5-6 under rules (inc 2-2 over fences); in fine fettle since returning from a lengthy absence; galloped on remorselessly when seeing off the challenge of Knight in Dubai and Windsor Avenue (fell) in a Haydock Gr 2 (2m4f, heavy) four weeks ago.

Form: 1141/11

Two For Gold³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 146| D

9/2

Gritty and yet to taste defeat over fences (3-3); has done everything asked of him in winning at Carlisle (2m4f), Kelso (2m7½f) and in Gr 2 at Warwick (3m); should relish the testing conditions but is facing his sternest test to date.

Form: 114-111

Pym⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 152| CD

11/4

Fast improving chaser (2-3) who has already eclipsed his achievements over hurdles; off for two months since making all (jumped well) in an eventful race at Cheltenham (3m1½f) in mid-December; boasts C&D soft ground winning form.

Form: 210-211

Copperhead⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 145

6/1

Likeable individual who can only be described as majorly progressive since early 2019; 2-3 over fences, scaling new heights with a stamina-laden display in the Class 3 Mandarin Handicap Chase at Newbury (3m2f, soft) seven weeks ago; strong chance.

Form: 811-511

Alsa Mix³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 138| D

33/1

Possibly found the 2m1½f trip on the sharp side when a short-head winner on her chasing debut at Bangor (Mares' Listed, heavy); has produced broadly similar performances in defeat since (2m4f); this looks to be an overly ambitious target.

Form: 16P-132

Forecasts

Sam Brown (2/1), Pym (11/4), Two For Gold (9/2), Danny Whizzbang (11/2), Copperhead (6/1), Alsa Mix (33/1)

Nicky Henderson has landed the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase on four separate occasions since 2001 and the fast-improving Pym has already eclipsed his hurdling achievements since switched to the larger obstacles. For the longer-term, he appeals as a fine prospect for further big-race success. However, with the conditions forecast to be extremely testing his rider Nico De Boinville will need to curb some of his natural enthusiasm for jumping in order to conserve much needed energy for the finish. Both Sam Brown and COPPERHEAD have made rock-solid starts to their respective chasing careers, and it is the stamina-laden Colin Tizzard-trained runner who gets the decisive vote.