Maghull Novices` Chase Anyone`s For The Taking

Six go to post for this year`s Grade One Maghull Novices` Chase, these runners looking to be the first to complete the 2m distance and win their connections their share of the £61,000 first prize. The current favourite for this novices` chase is God`s Own who can be found at the best price of 15/8 at Stan James.

God`s Own is making his reappearance following the superb, if not surprising, runners-up place he picked up at the Cheltenham Festival. The Tom George charge finished second as a 33/1 shout in the Racing Post Arkle, finishing a full six lengths behind Un De Sceaux. This outing was a vast improvement on this son of Oscar`s previous two runs in the Tingle Creek and in the Grade Two Wayward Lad at Kempton. This one-time Grade One chase winner is a complex customer and whilst it wouldn`t be at all surprising to see his trainer lift the Maghull Novices` Chase trophy, neither would it be surprising to see him blow it. Long time partner Paddy Brennan rides with conditions expected to suit.

Bet365 are just one of the bookmakers to have the best price of 9/2 on a victory for Traffic Fluide, following the horse`s Sandown triumph. This was the Gary Moore charge`s second run at around 16f following two lacklustre attempts at 19f. Whilst, like God`s Own, he has been tested in graded company (finishing fourth of five in Ascot`s Mitie Novices` Chase), he has not been since his chasing debut. As a result connections will have to hope that the horse can take the leap from his back-to-back class three wins to scooping a Grade One chase. Something that seems unlikely.

Court Minstrel is the only course winner going to post and will be hoping that that plays to his advantage. The Evan Williams horse took home a conditional hurdle at this meeting last year though the differences between hurdles and fences is marked and goes without saying.

The two-time chase winner is another who is no stranger to graded company after also lining up for the Arkle. Court Minstrel completed 19 lengths off Un De Sceaux and 13 off God`s Own and will do well to reverse this form this afternoon.

All of bet365, Betvictor, betway and ladbrokes have the best price of 5/1 on the Janet Davies owned mount triumphing.

Henry De Bromhead was the last of the six trainers with entrants in this race this season to pick up this Maghull Novices` Chase title. He saddled the winning outsider Special Tiara in 2013. This year, the Bromhead team have Sizing Granite, an 11/2 shot at paddy Power.

Whilst this is another to not have secured a graded race, the seven-year-old was unlucky to unseat Jonathan Burke late on in a Punchestown Grade Two at this distance. With three wins from four outings, and this upset over in Ireland, this soft ground lover should be in with every chance going into this race. Somewhat surprisingly the two Paul Nicholls` runners are the event`s outsiders with Solar Impulse up for grabs at 9/1 at a number of bookmakers and Art Mauresque on offer at 16/1 (Numerous).

Whilst the former is one of the most experienced horses in the race, he lacks consistency having only won once on his six rides over fences. The Andrea and Graham Wylie son of Westerner has finished second on four other occasions and connections will be hoping that he isn`t a perennial bridesmaid.

Unlike Solar Impulse, Art Mauresque is available at a big price not because of his previous performances but because he has only run once previous, when winning by six lengths in a Kempton class three, and could be anything.

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11/04/2015     © Frixo 2024