French star Master Dino the new JLT favourite after impressive Plumpton success

In a Plumpton novice chase for the ages, last year's French champion four-year-old hurdler Master Dino produced a scintillating display against strong opposition to cruise to the summit of the JLT Novices' Chase market at a best-priced 6-1.

With the 2m3½f Follow At The Races On Twitter Novices' Chase part of Plumpton's bonus scheme, the race attracted a talented field, including Knocknanuss, who had created a huge impression when winning at Newbury, Glenloe – Gordon Elliott's first runner at the East Sussex track – and the Colin Tizzard-trained Slate House, but it was the French challenger who would end up taking the prize.

Master Dino tracked Knocknanuss throughout the early part of the contest before pouncing two from home and clearing away from the field, and it was clear rider Daryl Jacob felt his mount had overcome some adversity in victory.

Connections of the Guillaume Macaire-trained Master Dino are now eligible for a £60,000 bonus should he win a chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Jacob said: "Knocknanuss went very quick up front and I couldn't afford to let him go as we wouldn't have pegged him back – it was a good ride by Jamie Moore.

"The track and ground was against Master Dino today but he still came out on top. That's phase one out of the way and now we can focus on the Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown, which I feel will suit him better.

"It's a different type of racing over here and we wanted the horse to have that experience."

Guillaume Macaire: plotting a tilt at the JLT Novices' Chase with Master DinoCredit: John Grossick

Macaire, who was on hand to supervise having appeared on Nick Luck's show on Racing TV in the morning, added: "He's a good horse, a top juvenile in France, and he's able to continually repeat his form. He stays and he was not tired after the race, which is a good sign.

"The next step is Sandown, then Cheltenham. The Arkle could be too fast for him – he was keen in the past and I worked hard to settle him at home and he seems suited by intermediate trips, so the JLT is the plan.

"The ground is rarely deep at Cheltenham so this experience is very useful."

Master Dino leapfrogged Lostintranslation, winner of the Dipper Chase on New Year's Day, at the head of the JLT market, and was widely cut to 6-1 (from as a big as 16).

Beaten horses

The Alan King-trained Good Man Pat stayed on well to take third under Wayne Hutchinson on his first start over fences, seven lengths adrift of runner-up Knocknanuss.

Slate House came home fourth, ahead of JP McManus-owned pair of Glenloe, who had plenty to do when blundering away any chance at the 11th on his chasing debut, and 33-1 outsider of the six Onefortheroadtom, who brought up the rear.

Result, replay and analysis

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