The Christmas racing spectacular is just around the corner, but before we look ahead to one of the best weeks in horse racing, we have a stellar weekend of horse racing action to warm us up.
Today, we start off with the Grade 2 Howden Noel Novices’ Chase where Johnnywho looks to get his season back on track after a below-par performance in the John Francome Novices’ Chase.
But, was it a below par performance, or is that just Johnnywhos level?
Here, I will touch on all for runners and give you my final selection for the Howden Noel Novices’ Chase trophy.
You will find the best online horse racing bookmakers for this weekend’s best horse racing action.
Howden Noel Novices’ Chase runner by runner betting guide
Now it’s time to take a in-depth look into runners of the Howden Noel Novices’ Chase and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.
🏇 1 Johnnywho
- Age: 7
- Weight: 11st 4lb
- Form: 484-13
- Rating: 143
- Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
- Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill & A J O’Neill
- Odds: 1/1
For a horse who has shown glimpses of true class, Johnnywho finds it very difficult to back up one good run after another.
It was like Deja Vu when Johnnywho sauntered to victory on chase debut just as easily as he did last season over hurdles. With that came the ‘he is about to show what he can really do’ talk, but yet again, he couldn’t back it up.
As with last season, when winning the first time out, he failed to kick on from that performance in the Grade 2 John Francome Novices’ Chase.
This is a weaker race on paper, but I find it hard to trust a horse like Johnnywho, who has yet to show that he backs up his runs.
At the prices, I am more than willing to take him on.
✅ Has shown that he has the talent to win a graded race
✅ Very impressive on chase debut
❌ Has failed to kick on after an impressive debut win
❌ Has looked weak in a finish
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐
🐎 Bet on Johnnywho with talkSPORT BET 🐎
🏇 4 Rare Edition
- Age: 7
- Weight: 11st 4lb
- Form: 10-012
- Rating: 137
- Jockey: David Bass
- Trainer: Charlie Longsdon
- Odds: 2/1
Rare Edition is the most straightforward of the four runners here and looks the safest option.
Having made a successful chase debut by the narrowest margin over next-time-out winner Rambo T, Rare Edition backed that run up with a good second behind Bucksy Des Epeires from the red-hot Venetia William stable.
Rare Edition thrives in these conditions: small fields, right-handed flat track, and good to soft ground. He ticks a lot of boxes.
He can make the running, but with a strong pace likely to be on show, he will likely get a nice toe into the race.
There is a lot to like about his chances here, and given he has the least to prove in the field, he looks like a solid bet here.
✅ Straightforward
✅ Jumps well
✅ Ideal conditions
❌ Can be keen
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️⭐
🐎 Bet on Rare Edition with Sky Bet 🐎
🏇 3 Personal Ambition
- Age: 5
- Weight: 11st 4lb
- Form: 116-24
- Rating: 131
- Jockey: Ben Jones
- Trainer: Ben Pauling
- Odds: 7/2
The young and interesting one in the field who, based on his hurdles form, has yet to reach the level over the larger obstacles.
A Grade 2 winner over hurdle beating the recent impressive Grade 2 novice chase winner Jango Baie, Personal Ambition has a big part to play here.
His chase debut was fine, nothing more, nothing less. It was a two-horse race where the previewable frontrunner had his own way and won well.
I’m more inclined to take the two-runner races with a pinch of salt and concentrate on his second run over fences.
Having forced the pace with Myretown, Personal Ambition had a tendency to jump out to his right throughout.
He overjumped five out, which seemed to give him a fright as he got into the bottom on the next fence and then ballooned the third last.
The effects of forcing the pace and the novice mistakes showed as he was left behind after the last, but it was still a run full of promise in what looked like a deep handicap chase.
If he can be more tractable today, and with the addition of racing right-handed here, you can expect a much better performance from this unexposed five-year-old.
✅ Grade 2 winner over hurdles
✅ Back on a right-handed track
✅ Unexposed
❌ Can be keen
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🐎 Bet on Personal Ambition with Paddy Power 🐎
🏇 2 Mark Of Gold
- Age: 7
- Weight: 11st 4lb
- Form: F10P-2
- Rating: 142
- Jockey: Caolin Quinn
- Trainer: Gary & Josh Moore
- Odds: 15/2
A fine dual-purpose horse with ten wins from 32 runs (seven hurdles, three flat) to his name, and he showed to be in good nick with a good second behind Irish Hill at Plumpton back over hurdles.
He’s another who likes to get on with things, but he has also been effective when held up off a pace, and given that this is his chase debut, you would suspect that they will adopt the latter tactics.
His hurdling technique gives you hope that he could excel as a chaser, and if he doesn’t get too buzzed up, there is every chance he can outrun his odds here.
It is a difficult task for his chase debut, but he has the talent to play a part in the finish.
A lively player at the prices.
✅ A talented dual-purpose horse
✅ In good form
❌ First start over fences
❌ Tailed off on his only visit to Ascot
❌ Can be very keen
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🐎 Bet on Mark Of Gold with Midnite 🐎
Grade 2 Howden Noel Novices’ Chase Verdict
A tight four-runner Grade 2 novices’ chase where RARE EDITION can two from three over fences.
Having put up a good second over course and distance last time out, he can progress more here with conditions very much in his favour.
Personal Ambition can also show improved form from his last run back on a right-handed track and can prove the most significant danger with Johnnywho on a retrieval mission.
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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