Equine Lens Novices' Chase

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 5m 11.9s

1^st

Modus

710-12

2/9f

T: P F NichollsJ: B J Geraghty

Held up, closed 10th, went 2nd 4 out, challenged 2 out, shaken up to lead last, clear towards finish op 1/4

2^nd

Midnight Target

710-5

25/1

T: J GroucottJ: Lee Edwards

Led, ran a little towards paddock exit before 7th, driven and joined from 2 out, dived at last and headed, beaten flat, eased close home op 20/1

3^rd

Gibralfaro

510-12

4/1

T: A KingJ: Wayne Hutchinson

Tracked leader until 3 out, mistake 2 out, weakened

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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£1.20EX:£4.30Trifecta:£6.20SF:£4.03

Forecasts

Modus (2/9), Gibralfaro (4/1), Midnight Target (25/1)

Paul Nicholls has found the ideal race for MODUS to kick-start his career over fences. He has been a most promising horse from early on in his career, and he showed his immense class in competitive hurdle contests last term, finishing a runner up in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in November prior to taking the Listed Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton in January. He is far superior to these rivals over hurdles, and the combination of a Flat track and easy fences should see him off to a winning start over the larger obstacles.