A Novice Chase over 3 miles and as is the norm it seems a hot favourite from The Skelton Yard in Ange Des Malbereux. That romped home last time, steps back up in trip and as always, I want to take on any hot favourite over 3 miles, especially in a Novice Chase. A host of these lined up in a similar race at Newton Abbot 3 weeks ago and of those I think that INDIAN REEL will fare best again today and it is fancied just over GEORGINA JOY who will benefit from this race being 2 furlongs shorter than the race at Newton Abbot. Quick N Easy and Quinto also come out of that race and the former could also be in contention here.

The runner up place for WITHOUTDEFAVOURITE looks good on paper but closer analysis indicates it was probably not as good or reliable a yardstick as the one at Newton Abbot, but a horse who ran the day before that race interests me most. CHASE ME was 4 times a runner up in Point 2 Points, staying on well each time and met a few horses in defeat, a shade classier than these. It's best run under rules was over 2 1/2 miles and looks like Chasing has always been the aim, the step back to 3 miles, as a stronger and more experienced horses looks to be the chance to really show its mettle. Sam rides for his dad and with a fair bit of pace in the race, I'd be hopeful of a strong run and finish, and if they can draw the sting out of the Skelton horse, they could expose it, as it has not convinced totally at 3 miles and beaten once by one of our winter favourites, the 25/1 winner LETEMGO! (remember him!).

We looked at NOUVELLE ERE in the 4.10 at Lingfield but that has been backed already in from 20/1 to about half that price and at those odds is NO value, and the 3.50 and 4.20 at Uttoxeter look very tricky, although the one Skelton horse you may get decent odds on today is WORKBENCH in the 4.20 and that may be worth a very small e/w dabble.