With four to jump they were on schedule to run a rather moderate time, but from there they came home in just 68.27 seconds compared with the 74.60 seconds it took in the valuable Grade 3 BetBright Chase on the same card. Win machine Balder Succes (41) won the dash from four out, kicking into overdrive when initially it looked like Fox Appeal was going to hold on.

Balder Succes is a strong, rangy sort who has the build of a two and a half mile specialist. He’s shown he can be just as effective over two miles. The way he sustained his effort here makes me think that three miles in the King George next season is not entirely out of the question. If he hadn’t tipped up when looking sure to win at Cheltenham, Balder Succes would now have won six of the seven times he’s run over fixed brush hurdles or fences.

Balder Succes is clearly one of the very best novice chasers. He beat two smart rivals here and looks a good prospect to win a Grade 1.

The runner-up God’s Own (40) put up a huge performance. He had to be switched late for a run at the last and showed real athleticism when he had to stretch for that jump slightly sideways yet landed running. He ran past Fox Appeal then closed in on the winner steadily on the short run-in to finish full of running. God’s Own is a good-bodied, classy-looking sort who moves well. I’m not surprised his trainer and his record suggests he prefers faster ground. He also needs to go right-handed now he’s running over fences according to his trainer. His trainer Tom George says that he is likely to be aimed at Punchestown where his logical target would be the Champion Novice Chase over three mile and a furlong. Then again there is also a valuable novice handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival which Wishfull Thinking showed can be won by a horse carrying the kind of welter burden God’s Own would be assigned there. Third placed Fox Appeal (40) ran another big race. He’s been unlucky to bump into at least potential Grade 1 types on several occasions. But for this he would have won eight of the nine times he’s run two and a half miles around any type of track or three miles around a tight one. He deserves another big race win.