Expert Analysis

Although we are still at a very early stage of the season, I would be surprised if one or both of the front two to finish did not turn out to take high rank in this year’s novice chase division. The question might be more about what trip they each may end up competing over.

JULY FLOWER This makes it two from two over fences for her and she has jumped exceptionally well both here and at Limerick on her chasing debut. I suspect she has beaten a very decent sort that was primed for the day. The front two drew well clear of the highly regarded Burdett Road, the time was very strong, and one would guess she will take high rank amongst this season’s two-mile novice chasers. Along with the runner up, she could prove to be equally adept over an intermediate trip.

BE AWARE The lessons of the day suggest that his prominent position throughout was to his advantage and, conversely, his inside track position was at best, no help at all and possibly a significant disadvantage. The time of the race was very strong, and it took a really good mare to get the better of him. His overall profile suggests that he will continue to need to be ridden very positively if sticking to the minimum trip. The drying ground may have been in his favour as he was beaten in a minor race at Lingfield on his only start whilst competing on a soft surface. According to Proform Racing, the times on the day suggest the ground was on the soft side of good to soft at worst rather than the official description of soft all round.

BURDETT ROAD A surprise to see this flat-bred five-year-old take his chance over fences. He was said pre-race to have schooled well, and he certainly did little wrong on this chasing debut. The time of the race was very good, and he was beaten by two very promising chasers that were both competing for the second time over the larger obstacles.

BRENTFORD HOPE I thought he was safe enough on this chasing debut even though as an eight-year-old with 17 hurdle races under his belt, he was not the most obvious of horses to try the larger obstacles. He did okay though, and it will be interesting to see if he is kept to fences throughout the season.

STENCIL He was the only four-year-old in the field and by far the least experienced horse as this was only his sixth race under rules as well as being his chasing debut. Not for the first time, he was very buzzy in the early stages of the race, before making good headway running down to what is usually the third last fence. From the turn for home until the winning post he was not given a hard time of things, and we will hopefully see plenty of improvement on this fifth of sixth place finish on another day.