held up in rear, mistake 3rd, behind when fell 7th
held up in touch early, progressed to track leading pair from 5th, effort and close up on inside when jumped right and bumped rival 2 out, chased winner after, no impression last
tracked leading pair to 5th, soon lost place, ridden and struggling 8th, soon tailed off, jumped left final 2
jumped well, made all, came clear approaching last, ridden and kept on well flat
mostly chased winner, challenged 3 out, soon pushed along, close up but ridden when not much room bumped and fell 2 out
not always fluent, held up in rear, mistake 3rd, headway 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders in 4th, effort and close up when slightly hampered 2 out, soon ridden and no extra before last
in touch, ridden and struggling 8th, soon tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
This is a really top Novices Chase full of former classy hurdlers but having already experienced the big obstacles under race conditions we're going to side with FRANCHOEK marginally ahead of El Dancer while Numide remains of interest. Depite being well held the pick made a good start to life as a chaser when finding a potentially classy sort too good on debut. He handles soft ground and this former Triumph Hurdle runner-up should be able to make his mark over the big stuff. El Dancer has a bit to find on the selection based on his hurdles form but his run in the Greatwood Hurdle last time offers plenty of hope with the form well advertised by the winner and he does like it here. Anything Gary Moore sends out at this track needs respecting and his own former Greatwood Hurdle winner Numide has improved in two starts over fences and is entitled to go better again. Mohonia has a chance as he has always looked more of a chaser but with experience of racing in this sphere we side with Franchoek.
Agent Ben (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Ww, some prog 5out, in tch 3out, rdn to chall 3rd 2out, no ex late, 4th of 13, well behind Mount Stafford (12-0) at Toomebridge 3m ire ptp hvy in May.
El Dancer (GER) 14-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, hit 5th, weakened last, 5th of 15, 14l behind Khyber Kim (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
Franchoek (IRE) 11-10fav (11-1) Led until approaching 6th, remain prominent, left close 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, no impression 2 out, 2nd of 5, 13l behind Bergo (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
King Edmund 8-1 (10-12) Led, clear with one rival 5th, reduced lead and hit 3 out, joined 2 out, soon ridden, not fluent and headed soon after last, no extra flat, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind The Betchworth Kid (10-12) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Nov.
Mahonia (IRE) 4-1fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 12th of 17, 33l behind Wolf Moon (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Numide (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, driven 3 out, every chance approaching last, no extra flat, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Den of Iniquity (11-0) at Folkestone 2m beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Shoreacres (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Chased clear leader, joined leaders 5th, led 2 out, soon ridden and headed, weakened last, 7th of 20, 12l behind Go Native (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Signatory (USA) 50-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, not fluent 4th, struggling after 6th, tailed off, last of 7, well behind My Moment (11-0) at Warwick 2m beg chs (4) sft.
