Racecards
14:30 Ascot
Mitie Novices' Chase (Registered As The Noel Novices' Chase) (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 8y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £32,000 added
- Winner: £18,224
- 2nd: £6,838
- 3rd: £3,424
- 4th: £1,706
- Form 2450-11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
tracked leaders in 4th until 7th, jumped slowly 10th, outpaced in rear next
- Form 232P-14
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey R Johnson
led until 4th, chased leaders, 2nd after 11th until next, chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, left modest 4th last
- Form F1/737-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up in 5th place, headway into 2nd 12th, pushed along after 3 out, ridden between last two, keeping on in about 2 lengths 2nd when left in clear lead last
- Form 121P6-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer H Fry
- Jockey N D Fehily
tracked leaders, led 5th until 8th, chased leader until pushed along after 11th, chased leaders until outpaced in 5th next, rallied into 3rd on inside after next, no impression when left modest 2nd last
Amore Alato
16- Form 0/250-42
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Farrelly
- Jockey Harry Skelton
chased leader, led 4th until next, chased leader, led again 8th, ridden and about 2 lengths clear when blundered badly and unseated rider last
- Form 22/11F-6
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey G Sheehan
held up in rear, jumped slowly 10th, went 3rd and pushed laong 14th, ridden and weakened before 2 out, left modest 3rd last
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Junction Fourteen has won both starts so far over fences but the runner-up at Wincanton has let the form down since and Emma Lavelle's charge is conceding weight all round here. Paul Nicholls sent out last year's winner and Le Mercurey deserves a crack at this decent prize judged on his defeat of subsequent winner Violet Dancer at Plumpton. But we're quite keen on THOMAS BROWN (NAP) given the manner in which he made all over a shorter trip here last month. He looks a natural over fences and a step up in distance will suit. Killala Quay was tailed off in this grade at Newbury last month while Amore Alato also has some improving to do but Out Sam is worth noting on his fencing bow.
Formwatch
Junction Fourteen (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) Mostly jumped well, made virtually all, hit 7th, clear 4 out, 2 lengths ahead when slight peck last, driven and came further clear run-in, won at Wincanton 2m 4f (1) sft in Nov beating Arpege D'alene (11-2) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Killala Quay 20-1 (11-9) Led 1st until 7th, chased leader until 5 out, weakening when mistake 3 out, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 7, dist behind Native River (11-9) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gs in Nov.
Le Mercurey (FR) 4-5fav (11-1) Tracked leader until approaching 4th, chased leading pair, 2nd again 6th, ridden to challenge between last 2, led last, well in command run-in, won at Plumpton 2m 4f (3) sft in Nov beating Violet Dancer (11-6) by 6l, 6 ran.
Thomas Brown 8-13fav (11-2) Jumped well, made all, came clear after 2 out, very easily, won at Ascot 2m 3f (3) sft in Nov beating Bon Chic (10-9) by 9l, 4 ran.
Amore Alato 15-8 (11-0) In rear, headway before 9th, went 2nd from 2 out, every chance last, lost 2nd run-in, kept on to regain 2nd place close home, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Stilletto (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Out Sam 11-4fav (11-12) Prominent, went 2nd from 4 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 6th of 15, 11 3/4l behind One For Harry (10-13) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.