13:50
Coral John Francome Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)
Grade 2, Class 1, 2m3f187y, Chase, 4yo+, 6 runners
Winning time 4m 56.32s
- Going
- Good To Soft
- Surface
- Turf
- Jumps
- 16 fences
Result
Gavin Sheehan
Jamie Snowden
Settled behind pace early - third from sixth then improved into second by 11th - urged forward before four out to reach the front-runner's quarters - driven approaching two out - hit the front shortly after the final fence - powered clear to the line
Ben Jones
Ben Pauling
Held up early - improved into third by the 12th - hit the front three out looking full of running - given a nudge after the second-last - fought back before edging clear near the line and held on under pressure to the finish
Harry Cobden
Paul Nicholls
Set off in front and pulling hard early - fenced with confidence to open a good advantage - margin shortened approaching the 11th - overtaken three out - battled on without finding more - held on for third
Sam Twiston-Davies
Anthony Honeyball
Tracked the front rank early - dropped towards the back after the 6th - made ground back into contention by the 12th - urged forward before 3 out then lost momentum approaching 2 out to finish 4th
Sean Bowen
Olly Murphy
Struggled for fluency near the back - urged on after the 11th - found nothing and finished well beaten in 5th
Danny Gilligan
Gordon Elliott
Sat close to pace early - moved into second after 6th before slipping back with an error at the 12th - faded well before 3 out to finish 6th
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.