Pauling sticks to schedule to get exciting Willoughby Court to the festival

BetBright Dipper Novices' Chase (Grade 2) | 2m5f | 5yo+ | ITV4/RUK

Willoughby Court has beaten Yanworth once this season but he must do it all over again conceding 5lb to his rival to further advance his RSA Chase claims.

With three lengths separating the pair when they clashed at level weights at Newbury last month, the Grade 2 penalty hands Yanworth what could be a significant boost.

But it was not enough to deter Ben Pauling from sticking to the programme he has mapped out for Willoughby Court in a bid to turn his Neptune Investment Novices' Hurdle victor into a two-time festival winner.

Willoughby Court made a successful chase debut at Huntingdon and then passed a key test when winning the race at Newbury captured in the past by Denman, Bobs Worth – who beat Cue Card – and Coneygree.

Pauling said: "I'd made a plan to run here a long time ago. It's nice to stick to plans. He has to give 5lb to Yanworth – that's not going to be easy – but he's a very good, genuine, tough horse who handled very soft ground when he won the Leamington Spa Novices' Hurdle at Warwick.

"I don't think the ground will necessarily stop him. I don't think he loves it but he certainly handles it."

He added: "Whether he had to concede 5lb or not, I think he'll run a very nice race. It's not an easy task but not an impossible task. If all goes well he'll have a break between this and the festival."

More match practice

Yanworth, beaten favourite in last year's Champion Hurdle, has yet to show the same level of form over fences.

He won on his chasing debut, then fell next time, before finishing second to Willoughby Court. Trainer Alan King believes he will continue to improve with more experience.

Yanoorth: 'He's a very good, genuine, tough horse,' says trainer Alan KingCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He needs the match practice and I’ve had this race in mind for some time, while the 5lb pull we have with Willoughby Court should bring us even closer together," said the trainer.

"I was very happy with Yanworth’s second in the Newbury Grade 2 and he'll have learned plenty from that. His only real jumping blemish came three out, but he recovered and came home with a rattle. He was never going to be able make up five lengths on a horse like Willoughby Court in such a short space of time."

Handy Andy

The race won by Whisper 12 months ago is unlikely to be a two-horse affair with Ballyandy, Ami Desbois and Sizing Tennessee also in the field.

Ballyandy brings a festival pedigree to the contest, having won the 2016 Champion Bumper and finishing fourth in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, having won the Betfair Hurdle before that.

Ballyandy has come out of his Betfair Hurdle win two weeks ago particularly wellCredit: Mark Cranham

His chasing career started satisfactorily when he beat Albert Bartlett runner-up Fagan at Perth in September, but he has not run since.

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "We've had a few niggling problems but he's 100 per cent now. I'm looking forward to it. I think he's proved he's as good over fences as over hurdles. This is a good test for him."

Friendly conditions for Ami

Ami Desbois has won two out of two over fences and should relish the heavy going, according to trainer Graeme McPherson.

"He's in absolutely cracking form and I'm delighted to see all this rain and dreadful weather about as it means he'll have his optimum conditions for the first time this season," he said.

"We had considered running him in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day but decided to wait for Cheltenham, due to the forecast.

"I had a walk around Kempton before Christmas and thought it walked good to soft, so even with some rain it was not likely to be as soft as Cheltenham will be after a week of rain."

McPherson added: "I think he'd have run very, very well in the Kauto Star, and the extra few days and the softer ground are going to help him rather than hinder him. I think it's going to be a very exciting race."

A convincing success

Sizing Tennessee has made jumping errors in his four chase starts but got off the mark in convincing enough fashion over an extended three miles and a furlong at Cheltenham last month.

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