1.10 Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Grade 1) 2m 5f 107yd

Final Demand: With the exception of a defeat against The New Lion at Cheltenham last spring, this ultra-imposing €230,000 store purchase has been basically flawless in his career. Could hardly have made a brighter start to his chasing career when jumping impeccably in a Navan Racing Festival novice chase in November, and followed up as 1/3 favourite in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick. Arguably, however, he wasn’t as impressive as might have been expected last time and the runner-up wasn’t thought to be one who really operates on heavy ground. Still sets a high standard.

Jimmy Du Seuil: Smart novice hurdler turned Coral Cup winner created a splash when beating The Big Westerner on his chasing bow at Fairyhouse in November. Concerns raised, however, by a dismal run in the Faugheen at Limerick when tailed off behind Final Demand (reported to be post-race normal by the veterinary team). Perhaps he never coped with the testing ground, though he did win a maiden hurdle on heavy. Claims if able to forgive his last run.

Kaid d’Authie: Physically has always looked likely to appreciate going chasing, and to respect a fence more than he did a hurdle. Second-placed effort behind subsequent Grade 1 winner Kitzbuhel reads well from Punchestown in November, and followed up in fine style to beat Wingmen by 10 lengths at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day. Officially 10lb inferior to Final Demand, but the gap between them mightn’t be that big.

Rushmount: Held in three beginners’ chases before bolting up by 14 lengths in a Thurles handicap chase off 130 before Christmas (now raised to 143). This requires an awful lot more from him and he likely won’t want the rain to arrive.

Western Fold: Galway Plate winner is only rated 1lb below Final Demand, has much more experience over fences than him but is a considerably bigger price. That might be down to the fact that he hasn’t been seen since November 1st, having been given a freshen up , but he has beaten and finished just behind Affordale Fury on his last two starts. Possible he’ll improve from this with a view to something like the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham, and deep ground mightn’t be his optimum either, for all that he has early form in lower grades on heavy.

Conclusion

Nobody knows just yet how high Final Demand can fly, and it’s hard to have confidence that there’s enough in here to lower his colours. He mightn’t quite fall into banker of the meeting material, given this is a novice chase and his two stablemates are capable of running to classy figures, but the prospect of slow ground should only play to his strengths. Had conditions remained drier and he had raced more recently, Western Fold would have been more appealing to give him a race. Kaid d’Authie, a course winner over hurdles last season, might be the one to chase him home.