tracked leader, 4th until mistaken headed 4 out, stayed on at same pace from next
not fluent, led, until mistake and headed 4th, chased leader, blundered 12th, weakening when mistake 4 out tailed off
jumped left, raced wide, never going well in rear, driven approaching 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up in 4th, tracked leaders 11th, 2nd 4 out, ridden to lead narrowly after 2 out, gained upper hand before last, ridden and kept on well running
not fluent, in touch, hit 4th, weakened 11th, no chance when refused 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd before 10th, led 4 out, strongly pressed and narrowly headed after 2 out, stayed challenging until held before last
All seven runners have claims here but we will tentatively side with Good Spirit ahead of stablemate and likely favourite Natal and top-weight Ursis. Mr Nicholls has his stable in consistently good form and his two runners should both go well. However Good Spirit gets the vote today receiving weight from the whole field. He won cosily at Stratford last time out and is being brought along slowly but surely by his shrewd trainer and with his french form looking very solid (would of won a listed hurdle but for falling at the last), he must go well on suitable ground. Stablemate Natal would be more of a threat on better ground but is still an obvious danger, however jockey bookings should not be heeded too much as Ruby Walsh has always ridden Natal and Sam Thomas has partnered Good Spirit on his two British runs so far. Classified fell when still travelling with purpose last time out and will love the forecast testing conditions, whilst Yes Sir has disappointed twice recently so while he is certainly capable of bouncing back, he will certainly need to. Of more interest may be Ursis who won in determined fashion last time out, however the step up in trip may not be ideal so for that reason he is passed over. Il Duce stopped as if something was amiss last time out, whilst Dunsfold Duke was a very easy winner on his chase debut and could be anything, however he was a mile behind some of these as a hurdler so cannot be truly fancied. Ultimately we will side with Good Spirit to make the most of his weight-allowance and land this very competitive Novices' Chase.
Ursis (FR) 7-2 (11-3) Chased leader, led after 4th, hit 9th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, rallied to lead 2 out, kept on gamely flat, won at Wincanton 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft beating Opera Mundi (11-1) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Yes Sir (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Led, mistake 6th and next, headed 13th, weakened and mistake next, 5th of 10, 33l behind Flying Enterprise (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Classified (IRE) 4-5fav (11-12) Chased leader, close up and every chance when fell 4 out in race won by Heez A Dreamer (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (3) sft in Jan, 4 ran.
Il Duce (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) In touch, in 3rd and driven 12th, behind when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Gungadu (11-8) at Warwick 3m nov chs (2) hvy in Jan, 5 ran.
Natal (FR) 8-13fav (11-9) Held up behind leaders, hit 8th, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten, blundered last, 4th of 5, 14l behind Briareus (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Dec.
Dunsfold Duke 3-1 (11-3) In touch, headway 8th, led after 3 out, soon in command, won at Lingfield 2m 4f beg chs (4) hvy in Jan beating Esprit Saint (11-3) by 7l, 7 ran.
Good Spirit (FR) 4-6fav (10-11) Made all, mistake 5th, well in command from 3 out, very easily, won at Stratford 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs beating Royal Paradise (11-4) by 6l, 7 ran.
