BEN PAULING confirmed the JLT Chase was “very much the target” for Willoughby Court after the six-year-old held off the late surge of Yanworth to land the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Novices’ Chase, the old Berkshire Chase, over two and a half miles at Newbury yesterday.

Yanworth, a very high-class hurdler, had something to prove after falling at Exeter on his previous run but was still sent off at 10/11 favourite. He jumped a little better this time but it was Cheltenham Festival winner Willoughby Court (15/8), a winner on his chasing debut at Huntingdon, who went on at the eighth.

He looked like pulling clear approaching four out but never quite opened up an unassailable lead and Yanworth, seemingly short of pace at one stage, closed the gap as they entered the final furlong. He flattered briefly but could do no more and was still three lengths adrift at the line. Adrien Du Pont finished a fair third.

Pauling said: “That was really good. He was clever when he needed to be and was brave at a couple of fences when he needed to be as well. This is still as short as he wants on a flat track. It was a great ride from Nico. He is exceptional.

“We’ll probably stay at two and a half miles. The JLT is very much the target. We might look towards the Dipper at Cheltenham (January 1st) for him next. It’s fabulous for everyone involved. It’s so nice to have such a good horse.”

OLDGRANGEWOOD

The Ladbrokes Open Handicap Chase over two and a half miles was well named and looked a very intricate puzzle. They bunched up turning for home and in the end it was Oldgrangewood (6/1) and Harry Skelton, challenging out wide, who stayed on strongly to beat Jameson with top-weight O O Seven running a fine race in third.

Willie Boy made much of the running but was too close to several fences and had no more to give when Jameson, having survived one fairly serious mistake, took over. He was a little short of room on the inside but Oldgrangewood, having joined issue before starting to veer left, was always going to master him.

He was Dan Skelton’s 105th winner of the season with brother Harry moving on to 94.

“That was brilliant,” Dan Skelton said. “He’s getting there now although he was still a bit babyish in the closing stages. The Caspian Caviar at Cheltenham is a possibility but there are several options.”

REMAINDER OF THE CARD

Colin Tizzard has had one or two setbacks following his brilliant spell last year and Thistlecrack will need to be checked over. At least the yard had something to celebrate as the well-backed Lostintranslation took the opening maiden hurdle in good style in the hands of Robbie Power.

Bigmartre won the old Fulke Walwyn Trophy for the Harrys – Whittington and Bannister – while Nicky Henderson unleashed another potential star in Santini, who ran out a comfortable winner of the Ladbrokes Novices’ Hurdle.

It may have been a slightly disappointing day for J P McManus, with Unowhatimeanharry beaten, but the man is never down for long and The Organist came with a determined late run under Barry Geraghty to claim the closing handicap hurdle from Forza Milan.