13/11/2018. LATEST CHASING DEBUT. Cheltenham favourite Black Op set to make chasing bow at Exeter // Cards Cheltenham, sat 17 and sun 28th – 2018

 
Grande 1 winner Black Op (near side), will make his chasing debut at Exeter on Wednesday
Grande 1 winner Black Op (near side), will make his chasing debut at Exeter on Wednesday
Mark Cranham
 
By Tom Ward,  
   

Grade 1 winning novice hurdler Black Op will face nine rivals when he makes his eagerly anticipated chasing debut under Noel Fehily in a beginners’ chase at Exeter on Wednesday.

The Tom George-trained star excelled over hurdles last season, wining on two of his five starts including a first success at the highest level when staying on gamely to win the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April.

Currently a best priced 10-1 favourite for the JLT Novices’ Chase at next year’s Cheltenham Festival, the seven-year-old found only Samcro too good last March when runner-up in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

Connections will be hoping that Black Op can defy the recent trend of short-priced favourites being turned over in the RGB Building Supplies Beginners’ Chase .

Last year the Alan King-trained Yanworth was sent off a 2-9 favourite before falling at the seventh fence, while the Paul Nicholls-trained Aux Petit Soins was touched off at 2-7 in 2016.

 

CHELTENHAM sat 17th,  GOING GOOD TO SOFT (Partly cloudy),
 
12:40, JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Registered As The Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle) (Grade 2) Cl1 (3yo) 2m½f RUK, 13 runners
 
1:15,    mallardjewellers.com Novices’ Chase Cl2 (5yo+) 3m½f RUK, 11 runners
 
1:50,   BetVictor.com Handicap Chase (Grade 3) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m3½f ITV, 24 runners
 
2:25,   BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m4f ITV, 28 runners
 
3:00,  Regulatory Finance Solutions Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m ITV, 17 runners
 
3:30,  BetVictor Intermediate Handicap Hurdle Cl2 (3yo+ 0-140) 2m5f ITV, 37 runners
 
4:00,  Karndean Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed Race) Cl1 (4-6yo) 2m½f RUK, 23 runners
 
 
 
CHELTENHAM sun 18th,  GOING GOOD TO SOFT (Partly cloudy)
 
1:15, Steve And Sue Ibberson Happy Retirement Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Hdl Qual’) Cl3 (3yo+ 0-125) 2m5f RUK, 50 runners
 
1:50, Racing Post Arkle Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase (Registered As The November Novices’ Chase) (Grade 2) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m ITV4, 10 runners
 
2:25, Shloer Chase (Registered As The Cheltenham Chase) (Grade 2) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m ITV4, 8 runners
 
3:00, Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m½f ITV4, 28 runners
 
3:30, Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle (Registered As The Sharp Novices’ Hurdle) (Grade 2) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m½f ITV4, 11 runners
 
4:00, High Sheriff Of Gloucestershire And Racing Remember Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed) Cl1 (4-6yo) 2m½f RUK, 13 runners
 
 
fonte : RacingPost