Expert Analysis

This was a relatively slowly run race with a sprint up the home straight. The actual form of beating the 152 rated Iroko two and a half lengths with the 127 rated Mr Hope Street a further three and three-quarter lengths back in third would leave this performance well short of what will be required to go close in a King George. At the same time, it was hard not to be impressed by the way he jumped and travelled through the race before winning with a fair amount in hand at the winning post.

THE JUKEBOX MAN He made up around 30 lengths on Grey Dawning up the home straight and yet still finished about nine seconds behind the Skelton horse when comparing the pair from The Jukebox Man’s first fence which was Grey Dawning’s third. Neither of the front pair to finish in the Betfair Chase will be considered potential King George winners which highlights the amount of improvement the Ben Pauling horse will need to make between now and Boxing Day. That said, his connections did seem to hold the view pre-race and post-race that he would come on a lot for the run.

IROKO He experienced an interesting season last time around when his connections needed to protect his handicap mark for the Grand National. Perhaps it will be a case of same again this winter for Iroko. I think it is fair to assume that the good to soft ground would have been slightly quicker than ideal. I would also suggest that the slow gallop and sprint finish would have seriously negated his chances which needs to be borne in mind when assessing what the impressive looking winner actually achieved. Hopefully we will see some improvement in him when he is able to compete on a softer surface. That said, we may well have to wait for the Grand National in April before we see the best of him this season.

MR HOPE STREET I doubt very much his connections were expecting to win this race and so presumably his participation was more to do with adding to his experience over fences. He finished a little too close to the winner for comfort and has paid a price by being raised 4lbs to 131 for his troubles. Hopefully we will see him in a handicap chase on a left-handed course over three miles next time out.

KNAPPERS HILL I am not sure where they can go with this nine-year-old chaser with very little experience over fences to his name. Nevertheless, this was still a very encouraging performance after his 742 days absence.