History
The John Francome Novices’ Chase is a Grade 2 contest held at Newbury each November, run over just shy of two miles and four furlongs, typically featuring sixteen fences. This year the race takes place on Friday 28th November at 1:50pm, the fourth race on the card. It often attracts a small but select field, usually of around six quality contenders.
This year’s renewal is especially exciting, as it features our superstar Wendigo, trained by Jamie Snowden and ridden by Gavin Sheehan. He is followed by thousands of loyal owners, many of whom will be at Newbury on Friday to cheer him on. Remarkably, shares in Wendigo are still available, and you can secure yours in time to be an owner on Friday, with every chance of being a winning one!
The John Francome has become renowned for launching future chasing stars, with past winners like the mighty Denman, Bobs Worth, and Coneygree all going on to outstanding success. Few races can lay claim to such an illustrious and historic roll of honour.
Last year’s renewal was won by The Jukebox Man, trained by Ben Pauling, ridden by Ben Jones, and owned by well-known football manager Harry Redknapp. He went on to land the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase in impressive fashion at Kempton on Boxing Day before an unfortunate injury halted his season. He has since returned with a strong winning performance at Haydock, jumping superbly and making all, and now looks set to mount a bold challenge in the King George. The form of the race continues to stand up well. Masaccio, runner-up last year, is a high-class handicapper who finished third at the Cheltenham Festival before winning a competitive novices’ handicap chase at Ayr on Scottish Grand National Day. Other recent winners include Nassalam, who went on to dominate the Welsh National by a remarkable 34 lengths, and the hugely popular Champ, a multiple Graded winner.
Trends
Over the past two decades, Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson have been the standout trainers in the race, each claiming five victories.
There are several interesting trends from recent renewals that could help point out this year’s winner.
- Age – 9 of the last 12 winners were aged between 5 and 7
- Previous Chase Form – 9/12 winners had at least 1 previous chase run
- Previous Distance Form – 10/12 winners had at least 2 previous runs over 19-21 furlongs
- Previous Hurdle Form – 10/12 winners had at least 4 runs over hurdles
- Price – 11/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
Entries
At the time of writing, Regent’s Stroll heads the market at around 7/4, with Wendigo close behind at 2/1 and Steel Ally next in at 3/1.A couple sit around the 4/1 mark, Kingston Pride and No Questions Asked, before the market opens up to Crest Of Fortune and Leave Of Absence at 14/1, with King Of Kingsfield further back at 25/1.
Sam Thomas has a few promising novice chasers this season, and Steel Ally looked particularly smart when winning impressively on debut at Carlisle against more seasoned rivals. However, early indications suggest he may be aimed at Sandown instead. Kingston Pride made a satisfactory start to chasing at Perth but appears to require significant improvement on his hurdles form to be competitive at this level, and the same can be said for No Questions Asked, despite his recent Ascot novice chase success. That being said, it would be no surprise to see either take a step forward. However, the two who stand out at this stage are Regent’s Stroll and Wendigo.
Regent’s Stroll
An expensive purchase at £660,000 by the stable to retain him, this son of Walk In The Park made an early impression by winning an Ascot bumper, before following up with a victory in a Newbury bumper. He made his hurdles debut at the same venue, where despite a bad mistake at the second-last hurdle, he recovered strongly to win by nine and a half lengths.
Subsequent performances were somewhat mixed. Returning to Newbury for the Challow Hurdle as the 5/4 favourite, he raced too keenly and could never threaten, with future Cheltenham Festival winner The New Lion winning impressively and Wendigo staying on well for second. He was then beaten as the 8/11 favourite at Exeter, before winning a Wincanton Novice hurdle at 1/12. He later delivered a much-improved second in the Grade 1 Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.
Paul Nicholls has always looked forward to a career over fences, describing him as a potential “super chaser.” At the recent Newbury gallops morning, he mentioned he was particularly keen to run here and has probably had this in mind for a while. Regent’s Stroll looks an exciting prospect for novice chasing and, if fit after his absence, is expected to feature prominently on Friday, though first-time-out Ditcheat runners have had mixed results this season.
Wendigo
We all know plenty about our star and the fantastic career he has enjoyed so far. He progressed impressively through bumpers and novice hurdles, finishing a strong-staying second in the Challow Hurdle, over two lengths ahead of Friday’s rival Regent’s Stroll, before running an excellent fifth in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, where he was arguably unlucky not to finish in the first three.
He already has valuable chasing experience and arrives with a fitness edge, having been narrowly beaten on his chasing debut at Worcester just over a month ago. He travelled and jumped fluently throughout, only failing to hold off a determined Sean Bowen drive aboard Wade Out, who has since boosted the form by winning a Listed race at Cheltenham by three and a quarter lengths. The fourth horse, Excelero, has also franked the form with a nine-and-a-half-length win at Warwick, while Pic Roc, who unseated at the eighth, has since strolled home by seventeen lengths. It’s form that is working out exceptionally well, and Wendigo is expected to improve for the run.
With so much in his favour, and a big following from his loyal owners, Wendigo looks set to attract plenty of support at Newbury on Friday.
Conclusion
This shapes up to be a fascinating clash between two talented horses who share an official rating of 143, with several other intriguing contenders adding further depth to the contest. Early prices of 3/1 for Regent’s Stroll and 4/1 for Wendigo were quickly snapped up by shrewd punters. With a fitness advantage, chasing form that has worked out exceptionally well, and arguably a more solid overall profile, the preference has to be for WENDIGO.
