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Drinmore Novices Chase preview

Completing the trio of races from this week's new contributor John Ring from Rebel Racing, @tips_ROI, is the Drinmore Novices Chase, the only one of the four features without an odds-on favourite.

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Bar One Racing Drinmore Novices Chase
Grade 1, 2m4f, €85,000
1440 local, 0140 AEDST


No More Heroes makes the market here and probably rightly so as he appears to be the class act of the field. An unlucky third in last year’s Albert Bartlett after a far from ideal preparation, he looks a Grade 1 chase winner in waiting. My only issue is his price and the trip. A strong stayer, who admittedly is far from slow, he looks an RSA type and despite the heavy ground being a plus for him in terms of a test he could find this plenty sharp enough. He’s 6/5 despite only proving he could jump at a crawl in his Beginners Chase win, and being honest he was a bit high at a few fences for my liking. He won’t get away with wasting time in the air here. All in all he’s plenty short despite being the classy horse.

Outlander is the Gigginstown second string but really impressed me in winning his Beginners Chase. He jumped impeccably, recovering well when getting in close and showing plenty of scope when seeing a stride. His jumping was without doubt the winning of the race that day. He is likely to come on a fair bit for that last run and he was also still in his coat so there looks to be lots more to come. Seeing him pricking his ears coming to the last suggested he won a bit cosier than the result suggested.

Free Expression could undoubtedly be called an unlucky loser in the same race and yet I still can’t fancy him here. Slow at a few that day there’s no doubting he was hampered twice, once at a crucial stage, but his jumping left a fair bit to be desired and he looks all over a three miler to me. The likely quicker pace here will leave no room for error and I just feel this strong stayer will be better suited by three miles in time.

Monksland won a really strong Beginner’s Chase last week at Gowran. However that took place on heavy ground which would have suited this race fit, strong stayer against Roi Des Francs who was making his comeback and didn’t appear to enjoy the ground. Monksland will definitely improve at three miles as a chaser but I’m already dead set against him being good enough to be a Grade 1 chaser at any trip and I just feel he doesn’t have the ability to win this.

Of the remainder, they set a decent standard but there also appears to be a few 3 milers among them. Captain Von Trappe was unsuited by a slowly run race over further last time so this drop in trip looks against him while Shantou Flyer is a solid Grade 2 horse but seems likely to be found out here.

At the prices Outlander looks a real each way alternative to the favourite and with Ruby up might cause an upset.

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