Fox Norton

22nd-Oct-2016

There is no major rocket science to the case for Fox Norton here.  I just think that he is the most likely winner by a fair way, and that it is worth backing him at 4/1.

He has a lot in his favour.  He was a progressive novice last season, and he competed in a high grade.  Second to Garde La Victoire in the Grade 2 two-mile novices’ chase at Cheltenham’s November meeting last season, when he had Calipto behind him in third, he was third behind Vaniteux and Arzal in a Grade 2 contest at Doncaster on his next run, when he had Shaneshill behind him.  Then he finished third in the Arkle at Cheltenham.  That is all high-class form.  Then he rounded off the season by winning a decent little two-mile chase at Cheltenham’s April meeting.

His chase rating of 146 for this, his handicap debut, is just 1lb higher than his hurdles rating, and that may under-rate his ability over fences considerably.  He is a better chaser than hurdler already, and he has the potential to go higher still.  He loves Cheltenham, his record there reads 231, two miles is his trip and he goes well on this good ground.  Also, he goes well fresh.  He has won two of his three seasonal debuts.

I think that Rock The World is his biggest danger but, really, if Fox Norton runs his race, he has a big chance of winning, and I am happy to rely solely on Neil Mulholland’s horse.

FOX NORTON WON (ADV 4/1, SP 5.2)