BELLVANO's chase career got off to an inauspicious start when he failed to overhaul Hold Fast at Southwell a couple of weeks ago. He remains a novice of some potential, however, and can go one better here at the chief expense of Pascha Bere. Nick Gifford already has one or two decent novice chasers in his yard and this eight-year-old could prove another useful recruit if able to reproduce some solid hurdles form over the larger obstacles. Keki Buku failed to beat Rock Noir when made favourite on his chase debut in a three-runner race at Warwick but the winner is useful and Philip Hobbs' charge should know more today.
Bellvano (GER) 1-5fav (11-0) Raced keenly, held up 4th and last, left 3rd at 3rd, went 2nd 9th, pecked 3 out, challenged when blundered next, kept on and every chance, ridden flat, just held near finish, 2nd of 4, nk behind Hold Fast (11-0) at Southwell 2m nov chs (4) gs.
Dinarius 10-1 (11-9) Always rear-division, tailed off, 11th of 16, well behind Mic's Delight (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Fahrisee (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, fell next, in a race won by Osric (11-2) at Ffos Las 2m 3f nov chs (4) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
Gentleman Anshan (IRE) 66-1 (10-8) Chased winner until after 4th and again after 9th until approaching 4 out, soon well held in 3rd, one pace, 3rd of 7, 20l behind Phidippides (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Goodtimetoby (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before making mistake 2 out, 5th of 11, 36l behind Non Dom (11-5) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Hector's Choice (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, ridden next, 4th and one pace when sprawled badly last, not recover, 11th of 16, well behind Nearby (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Oct.
Humbel Ben (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Always behind, pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Universal Soldier (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft, 18 ran.
Keki Buku (FR) 11-8fav (11-0) Tracked leader, not fluent 5th, led narrowly 7th, driven and headed between last 2, soon no chance with winner, ridden out for 2nd flat, 2nd of 3, 7l behind Rock Noir (11-7) at Warwick 2m nov chs (4) sft in Dec.
Pascha Bere (FR) 8-1 (10-10) Prominent, led approaching 2 out, soon hard driven, headed last, no extra, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Tocca Ferro (10-2) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Uncle Ant (IRE) 28-1 (11-5) Led, hit and headed 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 11, 6l behind Nosecond Chance (11-2) at Fakenham 2m mdn hdl (5) gs.
