Follow At The Races On Twitter Novices' Chase

Off time: 12:49 | Winning time: 5m 14.70s

Thebannerkingrebel^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Page Fuller| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 139| C

9/4

Smart bumper performer who was a 3-time novice hurdle winner last season. Left alone at the first on course chase debut/reappearance but should be useful in this sphere.

Form: F130-61

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Ar Mest¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 126

7/2

Pretty useful maiden chaser. Jumped to his left when third on 2m Ascot return so could be happier going back left-handed. Bold bid anticipated.

Form: 5/U633-3

Bit Of A Legend^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: Cynthia Woods

300/1

Maiden pointer who has offered little in maiden/novice chases here this winter. Big outsider now chasing.

Form: 7/P63-P6

Foxboro⁴⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Stan Sheppard| T: R Walford| OR: 135

12/1

Flat winner in Germany who also won 2 hurdles in France in autumn 2019. Absent since ahead of this switch to fences for new yard. Interesting runner but market likely the best guide to expectations.

Form: 11-

The Raven's Return³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins| OR: 116

25/1

Fairy useful hurdler, winning Newton Abbot handicap on reappearance in October. Unseated at first on Ffos Las chase debut since. Bit to find here even if his jumping holds up.

Form: 2326-1U

Twenty Twenty³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 115

40/1

Fairly useful 19f winning hurdler but yet to strike form in two runs this term. Goes over fences now with something to prove.

Form: 2281-74

Up The Straight⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe| OR: 136| DWS

6/5

Useful hurdler. No match for smart Chantry House on his Ascot chase debut (19f) in November but it was a satisfactory start over fences and he should go well here. Has had a wind op since.

Form: 731-432

Forecasts

Up The Straight (6/5), Thebannerkingrebel (9/4), Ar Mest (7/2), Foxboro (12/1), The Raven's Return (25/1), Twenty Twenty (40/1), Bit Of A Legend (300/1)

UP THE STRAIGHT shouldn't have anything of Chantry House's quality to contend with this time and can build on that sound first effort over fences, particularly if deriving any benefit from a recent wind op. Ar Mest could be the main threat ahead of Thebannerkingrebel, who was left to jump around on his own after the first when making a winning chase debut here last month.