Grade Two Hampton Novices' Chase Guide

Paul Nicholls is in red hot form at the moment landing a seven timer last Saturday and in this event he has a big chance with Next Destination.

He is late to the game as a nine year old, but he was one of Willie Mullins’ hottest prospects in 2018 and now given to Nicholls he has started to get the best out of him again.

The gelding started his season off in a tough hurdles event finishing second behind likeable mare Roksana, but he did manage to beat the likes of Lisnagar Oscar and Kildisart after over 900 days off the track.

Being a past point to point winner, Nicholls sent him chasing for the first time at Newbury last time out and he took to the bigger obstacles like a duck to water.

The son on Dubai Destination managed to get off the mark straight away in the Grade Two John Francome Novices' Chase over three miles.

What was most impressive about that win was his staying ability and if improving again looks hard to beat in this fixture.

The six year old won a good Irish bumper on his final start two seasons ago and since then has moved to Tizzard's yard and made his debut last season at Chepstow in the Grade Two Persian War Novices Hurdle.

He was gambled on massively for that contest but could only finish a decent second just being outstayed by third in the 2019 Champion Bumper, Thyme Hill.

He then made his second start in England at Wincanton when again in another battle with Edwardstone and he finished second again.

In what looked his big chance to get off the mark he headed to Sandown in heavy conditions and he did not disappoint bolting up, he then went over course and distance in the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle and landed his first black type event.

The son of Stowaway was then sent to the Supreme Novices Hurdle where he never got into the race and ultimately disappointed.

Sent chasing this term by Tizzard he could only finish second on debut at Ffos Las behind If The Cap Fits, but used that experience to get off the mark next time out narrowly at Exeter.

He took a step back when being well beaten by Caribean boy two starts ago, but that was on ground he is not comfortable with.

Last time out he got his perfect conditions at Ascot in the Grade Two Noel Novices' Chase, but again could only finish second behind the smart Allart on debut for Nicky Henderson.

He is a live player in this event with the ground expected to be very wet again, but he needs to be at his best and be able to get past this seconditis.

This will be his fifth run of the season which is a negative.

The eight year old has been seen mostly over hurdles running in staying events to a good standard, but not in the same as this race.

He only made his chase debut two starts ago, having raced three times over hurdles this term and he made a winning start at Ludlow in a four runner event.

This prompeted connections to step him up to the Grade One Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day where he ran well to finish fourth.

He is the outsider of this three runner field and should be outclassed if the other two runners turn up but he has shown so far that he could be capable of a big run.