The pecking order: how this season's novices stack up

Novice chasers

157p Samcro

Samcro was hugely disappointing last season but he got his career firmly back on track when making a winning start over fences — on his first run since undergoing wind surgery — in a maiden at Down Royal in November, impressing with his jumping and, perhaps more importantly, how he hit the line full of running. Samcro then tackled the four-year-old Fakir d’Oudairies — who was in receipt of 8 lb — in an excellent edition of the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse last time. Samcro departed at the second-last, but he was still travelling ominously well on the bridle, and he likely would have won, so powerfully was he moving. He has a range of options over Christmas, with a two-and-a-half-mile Grade 1 at Limerick seemingly the most likely target, and he remains with significant potential over fences.

151p Battleoverdoyen

Battleoverdoyen showed plenty of ability over hurdles, notably winning a Grade 1 at Naas, but he is a chaser on looks and has already created an excellent impression over fences, winning both starts in good style. He got the better of a couple of experienced types with smart handicap form in the Florida Pearl Novice Chase and he is an outstanding prospect, with the step up in trip to three miles — a distance he has been crying out for — likely to unlock further improvement. He is set to tackle the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase on the final day of Leopardstown’s Christmas festival (December 29).

Yet more drama at @NewburyRacing!

CHAMP maintains his unbeaten record over fences, showing plenty of determination to reel in Black Op, who had jumped brilliantly throughout!🏇

(🎥@itvracing)pic.twitter.com/tXFKVTuTcS

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) November 29, 2019

151p Champ

Champ, a dual Grade 1-winning novice hurdler, has made an impressive start over fences, winning a beginners’ chase at Newbury with a fair amount in hand before returning to the same course to land the Grade 2 Berkshire Novices’ Chase at Newbury. Under the circumstances he did really well to extend his unbeaten record over fences after losing his place following an awkward jump at the third-last. There was also a scare on the run-in when he nearly took the wrong course, but he ultimately won with a bit up his sleeve and will be seen to even better effect when stepping up to three miles. The race formerly known as the Dipper Chase, at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, has been mooted as a potential target.

151p Slate House

Slate House has always enjoyed a big reputation at home, and he is finally starting to put it all together on the track. In fact, he is unlucky not to be unbeaten in his three starts so far this season. He had undergone another breathing operation prior to making his seasonal debut at Cheltenham in October, and everything seemed to click as he proved head and shoulders above his rivals, barely needing to come off the bridle. He also looked set to go extremely close in the BetVictor Gold Cup but came down at the second-last when mounting a threatening challenge. He didn't need to be at his best to win a novices' chase at Huntingdon last time and he is well up to making an impact at graded level.

Novice hurdlers

148P Envoi Allen

Envoi Allen has made a flawless start to his career, winning his only point before landing four bumpers, including the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. He has also won both starts over hurdles in style, looking set to reach the very top, and his performance at Fairyhouse last time, when winning the Grade 1 Royal Bond, was the best by a novice this season. He won that in ready fashion and will be tough to beat whichever route connections opt to go down. The Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle, over two and a half miles, towards the start of next month is his next target.

Perfect 6 from 6 for ENVOI ALLEN! 🏇

The 2019 Champion Bumper winner makes all in the (Grade 1) Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at @Fairyhouse, beating stablemate Abacadabras, to give @gelliott_racing a 1-2 in the first of today's Grade 1 races!

(🎥@RacingTV)pic.twitter.com/5lv6FymohS

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) December 1, 2019

146p Abacadabras

Abacadabras was beaten by Envoi Allen in the Champion Bumper last season – he finished fourth in what looks a very strong renewal – and he was also no match for his highly-touted stablemate in the Royal Bond. However, he enhanced his reputation in defeat, once again impressing with his cruising speed, doing well to get within a length and a half of such a smashing prospect. He had created an excellent impression when winning his first two starts over hurdles and should be considered a leading player in the division. He is the one to beat in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Leopardstown, December 27) in the likely absence of Envoi Allen.

145p Janidil 

Janidil was beaten in a maiden hurdle at Tramore last season, but the winner, Notebook, has developed into a smart novice chaser, so that effort looks better than it did at the time. Janidil has also improved markedly since, getting off the mark cosily at Tipperary before winning valuable handicaps at Down Royal and Fairyhouse. He showed a willing attitude to complete the hat-trick last time and is well worth a crack at a graded contest. He holds an entry in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle.