Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase – 1.50 Newbury – Friday 28th November

Looking at the early ante-post market for Friday’s Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase at 1.50 at Newbury, it’s clear that the layers have got a little carried away with two horses who have possibly had more media attention on their potential novice chasing careers than most.

Regent’s Stroll and Wendigo have been subject to plenty of news reports ahead of this season, and with Paul Nicholls often aiming a decent one (not always to good effect, mind) at this race, and Wendigo performing with credit on chase debut, it’s not surprising they are vying for joint ante-post favouritism.

However, with a couple of bits of chasing experience this season standing out to me visually and on the clock amongst those at bigger prices, it is a race to take advantage of the wider availability with plenty of firms about the horses in question.

Given there are only 8 entries and feasibly only King Of Kingsfield looks an unlikely runner, the place terms of 2 places on offer widely don’t make any appeal from an each-way perspective, so Win only bets are advised at this stage to take advantage of the generous prices.

Firstly, a 2-star ** recommendation is Ben Pauling’s No Questions Asked, who the layers haven’t afforded anything like the respect his chase debut win at Ascot deserved with their opening quotes of 11/2 generally.

Jumping impeccably and travelling easily behind a very strong tempo set by the quicksilver Viroflay, this combined to ensure that No Questions Asked produced a quicker final circuit and overall time compared with the 135-rated winner of the later 2m handicap chase Teddy Blue, and effectively carrying 18lbs more. Weights and measures could easily make No Questions Asked’s performance in the 150+ range. That would make him clear favourite in Friday’s race in my opinion.

In the last 10 years, Ben Pauling has only run two horses in this race and won both times. Willoughby Court and The Jukebox Man were and are two of the best horses Pauling has trained, and it’s surely noteworthy that No Questions Asked gets to attempt to live up to that level amongst all the promising novice chasers Pauling trains currently.

Also worth a 1-star * play is Anthony Honeyball’s Crest Of Fortune at 20/1, as his chase debut in the red-hot novice handicap chase at Cheltenham’s October meeting hasn’t been given anywhere near the recognition it should with that 20/1 quote.

Always jumping nicely over the larger obstacles, Crest Of Fortune hit the line stronger than anything, and it might be that further will suit in time, but the long galloping straights at Newbury will be right up Crest Of Fortune’s street.

Don’t forget he was placed in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree, similar to Regent’s Stroll, and yet is available at 20/1 compared with 2/1 about Regent’s Stroll on account of who trains him.

Of the others, Kingston Pride is unexposed but has form that is some way off the best of these as thing stand, and while Steel Ally looked impressive at Carlisle, enthusiasm is tempered if you consider that it wasn’t until after the last that he would’ve edged clear of the winner of the 127-rated 2m4f veteran’s chase run earlier on the card, if they ran their races side-by-side.

It’s hard to price these races up at the ante-post stage, but in my opinion the 11/2 about No Questions Asked and the 20/1 about Crest Of Fortune are among the best prices you’ll find all week. It’s just a shame they both come in the same race!