13:45 Leopardstown (IRE) 29 Dec 2023
Neville Hotels Novice Chase
Grade 1 | Class 1 | 4YO plus
Winner €60,000 - 6 ran
tracked leaders in 3rd, headway on wide outer to lead travelling well entering straight, clear at last, stayed on strongly run-in, unextended, impressive
held up in touch in rear, slight mistake 5th, 5th from halfway, close 4th on inner 3 out, pushed along after 2 out, ridden and went 2nd and no impression on winner at last, kept on same pace run-in, not trouble easy winner
disputed lead, led from 6th, pushed along 2 out, ridden and headed entering straight, dropped to 3rd at last, no impression on leaders
tracked leaders in 4th, bad mistake 8th, 5th 2 out, soon ridden, 4th at last, no impression on leaders
disputed lead, headed 6th and chased leader, pushed along 3 out, ridden in 2nd 2 out, 3rd entering straight, moderate 5th at last, no impression
in touch in rear, pushed along after 4 out and lost touch, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| Betfair SP | €6.55 |
| CSF | €11.72 (5, 1) |
| Win | €5.30 (5) |
| Place | €2.20 (5), €1.30 (1) |
| Exacta | €12.40 (5, 1) |
| Trifecta | €30.40 (5, 1, 4) |
Expert Analysis
It took a smart performance to win this, which Grangeclare West delivered with ease, the form backed up by a decent timefigure despite the pace having been on the steady side, the winner’s final 4f of 60.42s on what was now “soft” going equivalent to a 107.6% finishing speed.
GRANGECLARE WEST (c155+ here, 149+ previously) probably achieved plenty in beating the useful Heart Wood (with Corbetts Cross third) at Naas the time before and even more here despite being anything but hard-pushed to do so, clearly one of the best staying novice chasers around. He was held up in touch going well, made smooth headway approaching 2 out and went wider still as he led between the last 2, soon on top and able to coast for much of the run-in.
CORBETTS CROSS (c150 here, 142+ previously) is not quite a natural over fences so far but may improve in that department and deserves credit for a smart effort in any case, slow/less than fluent at a few held up, improving before 3 out and tapped for toe briefly at the next, staying on in vain pursuit.
FLOORING PORTER (c142 here, 156? previously) had no excuses this time other than that he might have been slightly disadvantaged in sticking to the inner in the closing stages, likely to be a rung or 2 below what he was as a hurdler in this sphere. He disputed the early lead then went on for sure mid-race, jumping well enough, headed after the second-last and one paced.
FLANKING MANEUVER (c139 here, 145 previously) ran respectably but is up against it at this level, held up in touch, making a couple of errors and one paced late on.
FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU (c127 here, 151 previously) could not repeat his stand-out performance from Punchestown going the other way round, disputing the early running but tending to jump to his right much of the way and quickly beaten 2 out.
TULLYHOGUE FORT (c0 here, 98 previously)
