Racecards
14:35 Ascot
Betfred Novices' Chase (Registered As The Noel Novices' Chase) (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £30,500 added
- Winner: £17,162
- 2nd: £6,466
- 3rd: £3,236
- 4th: £1,616
- Form 2P1-122
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey N D Fehily
leed, narrowly headed 10th, chased winner until 4 out, soon outpaced in 3rd, weakened to 4th 2 out, finished tired
- Form 013-522
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
jumped well, took keen hold tracking leader, led narrowly 10th, came clear before 2 out, stayed on strongly, easily
- Form 21P3-21
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey A P McCoy
took keen hold and held up last, mistake 6th, blundered 9th, mistakes 4 out and next, went modest 3rd 2 out, never involved
- Form 225F-12
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4 out, pushed along and no chance with winner before 2 out, kept on for clear 2nd
- Form 415-S13
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer F Brennan
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
Nonrunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
FOX APPEAL's length second to Wonderful Charm at Wincanton was a commendable effort and he'd run Black Thunder, another smart prospect, to a neck at Fontwell earlier. Through Wonderful Charm, he may just have the beating of the bold-jumping Up To Something at the weights and can make it third-time lucky over fences today. Raya Star chased home Dodging Bullets at Cheltenham after winning at Uttoxeter but may just be better over 2m. Mr Mole also steps up in trip but won a shade cosily at Warwick, though could be a tricky customer at times over hurdles. Sergeant Dick doesn't look up to this class.
Formwatch
Up To Something (FR) 14-1 (11-8) Led, ridden and pressed from 2 out, headed after last, no extra, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Wonderful Charm (11-8) at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grade 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Fox Appeal (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, tracked leader, blundered 10th, switched outside before 3 out (usual 4 out), soon challenged, led 2 out (usual 3 out), ridden after last (usual 2 out), kept on until headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Wonderful Charm (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs Grade 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Mr Mole (IRE) 13-8 (11-0) Tracked leaders, took closer order after 3 out, led after last, easily, won at Warwick 2m beg chs (4) gs beating Vukovar (10-8) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Raya Star (IRE) 15-8fav (11-2) Tracked leader, jumped right 3rd, mistake next, not fluent 6th, challenge 8th, led 4 out, ridden and joined when not fluent 2 out, headed before last, no impression final 100 yards, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Dodging Bullets (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grade 2 (1) gd in Nov.
Sergeant Dick (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) Jumped right, led pushed along and joined 2 out, soon headed and driven, 2 lengths down and well held last, no chance with winner and dropped to 3rd final 125 yards, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Easter Day (11-0) at Newbury 2m 6f (3) gs in Nov.