Neville Hotels Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 6m 37.3s

Corbetts Cross²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Mullins| D

13/8

Quickly made up into a useful novice hurdler last season and promising third to Grangeclare West on return/chase debut at Naas last month. Confirmed that promise when scoring with a bit in hand at Fairyhouse (21.5f, soft) and further progress likely back up in trip here.

Form: 111R-31

Favori De Champdou³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

3/1

Winner of 3 of his 6 starts over hurdles and good start over fences when second to Affordale Fury at Galway in October. Big step forward when winning the Florida Pearl at Punchestown (24f, soft) next time with Flooring Porter back in third. Remains open to improvement in this sphere.

Form: 11P4-21

Flanking Maneuver⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: N Meade

18/1

Placed in graded events on first 2 starts over fences prior to landing a maiden chase in good style at Fairyhouse in October. Likely to win more races in this sphere but he's up against some potentially very smart staying novices here.

Form: 214/33-1

Flooring Porter^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| CD

3/1

Top-notch staying hurdler who took well to fences when seeing off Broadway Boy (successful twice since) on chase debut at Cheltenham in October. Beaten 15¼ lengths when third in the Florida Pearl at Punchestown next time but will be much more at home back on a left-handed track.

Form: 443-913

Grangeclare West⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

4/1

Hasn't achieved as much as some of these over hurdles but has long appealed as the type to do even better in this sphere, a notion backed up by his impressive chase debut display at Naas (20f, soft). Likely to benefit from this stiffer test and he's a serious candidate.

Form: 1/1561-1

Tullyhogue Fort¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P J O'Neill| T: John F O'Neill| OR: 95| D

300/1

By far the most exposed of these over fences and he's punching well above his weight at this level.

Form: 252457

Forecasts

Corbetts Cross (13/8), Flooring Porter (3/1), Favori De Champdou (3/1), Grangeclare West (4/1), Flanking Maneuver (18/1), Tullyhogue Fort (300/1)

FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU produced a flawless round of jumping when landing the Florida Pearl in fine style at Punchestown last month, and he is taken to provide trainer Gordon Elliott with a sixth win in this Grade 1 contest. Corbetts Cross and Grangeclare West are both potentially smart novices, too, while former top staying hurdler Flooring Porter is also feared now back on a left-handed track after hanging badly left when third to the selection at Punchestown.