Top trainers look set for a shootout with promising novice chasers

Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Novices' Limited Handicap Chase | 2m4½f | 5yo+ | Sky

Five of the top seven trainers in Britain in terms of prize-money this season are represented in this novices’ limited handicap chase and that points to it being a strong race for the grade.

Nobody has been more successful than Paul Nicholls and he is represented by Diese Des Bieffes, who was carried out when beaten on his chase and stable debut at Wincanton in December. That was after 972 days off, though, so plenty of improvement is expected.

Diese Des Bieffes had previously been trained by Nicky Henderson and the Seven Barrows handler pitches Falco Blitz in against his old stablemate. He will likely head the market.

Falco Blitz has jumped left on both starts over fences at right-handed Ascot and Kempton, so the switch to a left-handed venue looks sure to suit. Improvement will make him hard to beat.

Jonjo O’Neill is fourth on the prize-money list this season, but his runner Quartz Du Rheu has been beaten a long way on both chase starts at odds of 50-1 and 66-1. There is a plausible excuse for his latest disappointment at Sandown when he lost a shoe and this looks easier.

Evan Williams is having a season to remember and his Quoi De Neuf bids to bounce back from a disappointing effort when favourite at Aintree last time. His previous second to Rowland Meyrick winner Canelo at that track looks strong form in this context.

The field is made up by the Fergal O’Brien-trained Diamond Fort and Harry Fry’s Samarquand. Fry is the only trainer who doesn’t make the top ten and he is trying a combination of hood and tongue-strap on Samarquand, who returns from 490 days off.

Fry has a 25 per cent strike-rate with runners wearing a first-time tongue-strap since the start of last year, so maybe Samarquand is no forlorn hope.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Diese Des Bieffes
He was running a nice race when he got carried out on his first run for a while at Wincanton. This better ground will suit him and I hope he'll run well.

Dan Downie, manager of Axom, owners of Falco Blitz
This looks the perfect race for him. He worked well last week and Nicky Henderson said he looked sharp so we've stuck to two and a half miles rather than switch to three. The ground is going to be as good as you're going to get and that should be ideal.

Harry Fry, trainer of Samarquand
This is potentially the best ground we've had for months, he has had a layoff and we didn't want attritional ground for his first run back. Whatever he does he'll improve but it's great to have him back.

Evan Williams, trainer of Quoi De Neuf
He's been off because he doesn't want it deep and it should be lovely jumping ground tomorrow. He ran very well first time out and that form has worked out well. He needs to get the show back on the road and then we hope he can have a nice spring campaign.
Reporting by David Carr

For all our exclusive free bet offers and must-have daily promotions click the free bets button or go to racingpost.com/freebets