Grade Two Lightning Novices' Chase Guide 2023

Cormier does not boast the best form around this course so he will have to improve on that trend if he wants to go close here. His last win came in the middle of last year on the flat at Chester where he won over 1m2f carrying a top weight of 10-2.

He has disappointed in Class 2 events since and came third of three on seasonal reappearance at Newcastle where he actually finished behind two rivals he faces again here in Tommy's Oscar and Since Day One.

The 7-year-old will have a tough task on his hands to reverse any form with the two of those as he got beat convincingly last time out.

A case cannot be made for win purposes here.

Tommy's Oscar will most likely battle this out with the other short-priced horse in the race, Boothill. He certainly makes strong claims here as he was a good winner of what was just a two-horse race on his seasonal reappearance, before finishing a good second in Grade 2 company.

He found himself 6 lengths behind the Joseph Patrick O'Brien trained Banbridge when they met at Cheltenham and ground conditions should not affect him this time around.

Will have to bounce back to form after last time outs effort, but he is proven at the trip and has won at this course before.

Could well be the one to beat if getting the better of Boothill.

Harry Fry's 8-year-old has been in tremendous form as of late winning three of his last four races. He is clearly a talented novice chaser and showcased that when comfortably winning the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton two days after Christmas.

Prior to that success, he finished 8 lengths behind Jonbon in second when they clashed at Sandown, but the current 2023 Arkle favourite was just too good for him that day.

Boothill does not rate as high as Tommy's Oscar in the overall ratings, but moving forward he could turn out to be the better horse.

Has to be respected here and should be able to give it his best shot in potentially making it four wins in his last five starts.

Since Day One has been so consistent over both hurdles and fences so far in his career, but this will be his toughest test yet stepping up to Grade 2 company.

He has been used to winning weaker contests than this so it is interesting to see whether or not he is good enough to carry on the progress that he has been showing.

This 7-year-old son of Fame And Glory has been running in small fields and this will be no different so that should not halt his chances.

He got the better of two rivals that he faces again here in Cormier and Tommy's Oscar, but it remains likely he will struggle to confirm the form with the latter on this occasion.

People may remember Ganapathi as he was formally trained by Willie Mullins before moving to Patrick Neville's yard last year. His last win came under his last trainer where he bolted up by 9 lengths at Wexford over 2m4f.

Since then he has really not been seen to his best, struggling to make the placings in small fields. Two of those runs came in Grade 3 and Grade 2 company, but last time out he finished fifth of six other rivals at Wetherby in what was a Class 3 event.

He looks to be out of his depth here and will need to put it all together to be within any chance of hitting the frame so he is one to easily dismiss.

This 5-year-old son of Saint Des Saints is the youngest horse in the race meaning he has the least amount of experience compared to some others in this lineup.

He is unbeaten since going chasing and he will be looking to make it 3-3 here, but that is easier said than done. Those two victories have come in Class 4 and Class 3 events so this is now a massive step up that he will have to relish.

The form from those two contests does not look the strongest either so it suggests he is just making up the numbers here and he cannot be fancied in the slightest.