Grade One Maghull Novices' Chase Guide 2022

After bringing down Edwardstone on their first start over fences, For Pleasure was then well beaten by the same rival before managing to score himself for the first time over fences at Plumpton.

He was going well enough in the Lightning Novice chase before coming to grief 2 out, but again was easily swept aside by Edwardstone when they clashed again in the Kingmaker.

Last seen pulling up in the Grand Annual, he’s a hardy front runner but Edwardstone more than has his number.

The perfect 2 mile novice chaser this season. He won his novice at Warwick with ease and immediately climbed the ranks into graded company.

A devastating win in the Henry VIII was followed by a brace of grade 2 victories at Kempton and Warwick.

Last month he justified favouritism to win the Arkle at Cheltenham. He jumped well, travelled powerfully and powered clear up the Cheltenham hill to a resounding success.

Simply the best 2 mile novice chaser around currently.

After looking the real deal over fences earlier in the season, he pinged his way to victory around Cheltenham twice and gained grade 2 honours easily.

Pitched in against Edwardstone twice this season twice however, Edwardstone has easily out jumped Third Time Lucki and been too much to handle for the Skelton 7 year old. He finished closer last time to be beaten only 4 lengths but it’s hard to see him reversing the form.

When not up against Edwardstone he didn’t manage to gain another grade 2 victory when sealing the Lightning novice chase at Doncaster. Comes here fresh but needs to have improved.

A second season novice chaser, Mick Pastor failed to win over fences last season so returned still a novice for this campaign.

He took to fences better this season and racked up a sequence of three wins, taking to handicap company well and winning easily.

Moved up to grade 2 company he failed to move up in trip and finished 2nd in a 3 runner affair behind Captain Tom Cat.

Last seen finishing well behind Third Time Lucki at Cheltenham back in November. He’s been given time to freshen up since he looks to have bundles to find in graded company to get competitive.

Coming over from Ireland, Gentleman De Mee has taken to fences quite slowly.

Well beaten on his first outing over the bigger obstacles behind Ferny Hollow, he was then brushed aside by another stablemate when being beaten by Haut En Couleurs.

However, with this experience in the book he’s managed to win his last two starts with utmost ease. Cruising to a wide margin victory at Thurles, he then backed that up with a grade 3 win at Navan last month.

Likely the biggest threat to the favourite but he’ll have to be foot perfect to apply genuine pressure to Edwardstone.

A winner of a few low level novice handicap chases and was plunged into the deep end to try and take on L’Homme Presse but he finished well tailed off.

The 7 year old has since found himself well held in open company handicaps since.

Being 4th of 5 in a handicap at Chepstow and last seen only running a couple of days ago at this meeting in the Red Rum handicap chase.

He’s trying to back up after 2 days and only finished 8th in the Red Rum. Easy to ignore.

This 6 year old has mainly been campaigned in novice handicaps this season over 2 miles and has tasted some decent success.

Unable to get the better of the impressive Brave Seasca when giving away weight he bounced back to form with an easy win at Newbury before a decent enough 5th in the Grand Annual last month.

He’s yet to dip his toe into graded conditions races and is rated nearly 20lbs inferior to Edwardstone. He’s going to have to improve markedly to have any kind of say here.