Kauto Star Novices' Chase Guide

The favourite on the day is the Dan Skelton trained Shan Blue, who is the right market leader off the back of his two chase outings this season and winning them both emphatically.

Having been a fair hurdler, this season he has taken his form to the next level by making his chase debut at Wetherby in October over 2m4f and winning by 14 lengths.

Off the back of that he went back to Wetherby and was stepped up to three miles for the first time in his career and he went on again to win by 16 lengths.

He showed clear stamina that day and his biggest asset is how well he jumps a fence, but now stepping up for his first black type event he will have needed to have improved again.

The Big Breakaway for Colin Tizzard will be looking to bounce back to form in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices' Chase on Boxing Day and we believe he has the scope to do so.

He was impressive without beating anything on his first three starts over hurdles last season, and he then took that form to a different level when fourth in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the festival, a race which is working out really well form wise.

Always bought to be a chaser, the Dorset handler sent him over the bigger obstacles at Cheltenham in November and he got off to a superb start landing a Novices' Chase over three miles by 10 lengths.

With the world at his feet, strangely he was dropped in trip last time out at Exeter in a 2m3f Novices' Chase and although taking on what looked a weak field, the star got beat by Bold Plan for Evan Williams.

His jumping that day was below par and it did not go to plan for the five year old however, going back up to three miles should see him back to his best and if living up to his potential has to be in the mix.

If The Cap Fits was a superb staying hurdler earlier on in his career winning races like the Grade Two Ascot Hurdle on two different occasions and the Grade One Stayers Hurdle at the Grand National meeting.

Trainer Harry Fry this season decided to send him chasing and if being able to step up to the bigger obstacles they always thought they could have a superb chaser.

On seasonal debut the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede trained gelding got off the mark in style beating Fiddlerontheroof at Ffos Las in a Novices' Chase.

On his latest outing he was beat when stepped up to three miles in a Listed Chase and that form has not worked out with Pym since being beat.

He will need a massive step up to challenge the market leaders but could run into a place.

Enrilo for Paul Nicholls is the master trainers only hope in the race and is certainly not without a chance if being as progressive as he has during his career.

The six year old was a smart horse over hurdles winning the Grade Two Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown and then finishing a fair third behind Thyme Hill in the Grade One Challow Hurdle.

Sent chasing this term by Nicholls the six year old was expected to win on debut, but could only finish second of four runners at Chepstow.

Maybe just needing the run that day he bounced back last time out Exeter, staying the three miles out really well to win a Novices' Chase and he is not without a chance if improving.

One For The Team for Nick Williams could be slightly outclassed in this field but should stay the trip and give his running.

The six year old son of Shirocco like many in this field was not a bad hurdler placing in some decent events, but most in the field has better form.

Having been sent chasing he made his debut at Newbury in November and unseated his rider in the final stages when looking beat.

He went back to Newbury for his last outing and stepped up to a Grade Two in the John Francome Novices' Chase and managed to improve to finish second behind Next Destination for Paul Nicholls.

That form is not the worst in the field but stepping up in class again could be the undoing of him.

Kalooki for Philip Hobbs has similar form to One For The Team having finished third behind him and Next Destination in a Grade Two at Newbury last time out.

Before that race Kalooki looked like he has big potential over fences this term when winning at Newbury in a Beginners Chase by 12 lengths.

However, after his last race he will need to seriously improve having faded over three miles and that would be the worry going up to a Grade One.

The final runner of the race is the 40/1 outsider Golan Fortune for Phil Middleton who should really have no chance in this field on form.

The eight year old has been seen mostly over hurdles running in staying events to a good standard, but not in the same class as most of these.

He only made his chase debut last time out having raced three times over hurdles this term and he made a winning start at Ludlow in a four runner event.

It is unknown how good he can be over fences, but it would be a big shock to see him win this on only his second start.