Racecards
14:20 Lingfield Park
Intercasino.co.uk Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 12F624
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer E Sheehy
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
led at decent pace, jumped slowly 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, immediately outpaced and beaten
- Form 47/22-69
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
held up last but in touch, close up 4 out, tracked leader 3 out, challenged next, led last, quickened clear run-in, eased near finish
- Form 1306-93
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
settled in 3rd, close 4 out, ridden to chase leading pair 3 out, stayed on same pace
- Form 432111
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey J Tizzard
tracked leaders, led 3 out, joined next, headed last, not pace of winner
In depth
Verdict
Foreman, Kahuna and Marcel all had decent form over hurdles but have yet to show a similar level of ability over the larger obstacles and a safer bet looks to be Volfoni, who is taken to complete a four-timer. The selection had ability over hurdles in France but has taken well to fences since joining the yard of Paul Nicholls and clearly relishes plenty of cut in the ground. Irish raider Kahuna has run well in defeat since opening his account over fences at Killarney in May but is beginning to look exposed, while Foreman did not look a natural in two starts over fences last term, although he was beaten by some useful types including Kauto Star. Martin Pipe's Marcel may not have stayed over 2m4f on his chase debut at Exeter earlier this month and could be of interest back in distance today but Le Volfoni has done nothing wrong of late and he gets the vote.
Formwatch
Kahuna (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 4th 5 out, in touch when bad mistake 3 out, soon no extra, 4th of 6, 23l behind Strong Project (11-6) at Thurles 2m 2f lst chs (1) gs.
Foreman (GER) (10-10) Never in touch, 9th of 11, 48l behind Zaiyad (10-3) at Enghien 2m 3f hdl Grd 3 (1) in Dec.
Marcel (FR) 5-2 (11-3) Led, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, 3rd and weakening when mistake 3 out, 3rd of 10, 38l behind Montgermont (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs.
Le Volfoni (FR) 10-11fav (11-3) Tracked leading pair, not fluent 6th, chased leaders 3 out, led 2 out, one length ahead and ridden when left clear last, won at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (3) sft beating Sharp Rigging (11-2) by 5l, 6 ran.