Grade Two Pendil Novices Chase Guide 2023

Top chaser who has performed admirably at this level and was only eight lengths behind Jonbon at Sandown in December in a Grade One outing.

Has since finished first in a Grade Two at Kempton later that month and then second last time out at 4/5fav behind Tommy’s Oscar (7/4) in another Grade Two contest.

He’s rated highly in this field and there should be more to come from Harry Fry’s eight-year-old, with Jonathan Burke on board. The key player here, as the market suggests. He also holds an entry for the Arkle at Cheltenham next month.

Solo returns after a 61-day break after a decent showing at Kempton last December, where he was nine lengths behind winner Balco Coastal in second in a handicap. His last win came a couple of runs ago at Sandown in November, where he beat joint-favourite Git Maker by five lengths.

This seven-year-old has improved since returning to the bigger obstacles and seems to enjoy this sort of trip and goes off 141 for the race here. There could be more improvement in store from Paul Nicholls’ gelding.

Datsalrightgino made the switch from hurdles to chasing at Newton Abbot in October last year, finishing three quarters of a length behind favourite Boothill.

The gelding has since won a handicap at Chepstow, before third and fourth finishes at Newbury and Doncaster.

His last outing was 28 days ago, where he finished second in a 2m 4f chase at Cheltenham, where Stage Star and Harry Cobden were relatively comfortable winners.

He wasn’t far off Boothill the last time they met, and it could be an interesting matchup. He also boasts a Cheltenham entry for the Arkle and a couple of other races during the festival.

Opened his chasing account 15 days ago at Kempton in a class three handicap over 2m 2f at 9/4fav, a neck ahead of Herbiers.

That followed a decent second behind Raffle Ticket in another class three handicap at Huntingdon last month.

He has shown continued improvement over the larger obstacles and can improve again here, but it may not be enough to challenge for victory, although he’s with a good yard and in the hands of Harry Skelton.

Six-year-old gelding who recently made the switch to chasing at Kempton in November last year. He boasts two wins from three over the larger obstacles following a disappointing run over hurdles throughout 2021 and 2022.

His last outing yielded a third-place finish at Huntingdon last month, behind Zambella and winner Jeremys Flame, trained by Gavin Cromwell.
This is a step up in company but given his runs so far over the bigger obstacles, he could improve once again.