Strong field to line up for John Francome Novices’ Chase at Newbury
The Jukebox Man ridden by Kieran Woods
Six have been declared for the Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase, including The Jukebox Man who is set to make his chasing debut.
Harry Redknapp's six-year-old finished second in both the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree, but trainer Ben Pauling has always had his eye on the bigger jumps.
Paul Nicholls’ Captain Teague, who beat The Jukebox Man in the Challow Hurdle last season, will be aiming to return the crown to Ditcheat after Hermes Allen won it last term.
Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s well-regarded Johnnywho lines up along with Dan Skelton’s GRade Two Boombawn.
Others declared are Alan King’s course-and-distance scorer Masaccio and Charlie Longsdon’s Bugise Seagull.
The other graded action on the card is the Coral Long Distance Hurdle, where Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader is expected to head the field.
Standing in his way are two Cheltenham Festival heroes in Langer Dan (Skelton) and Monmiral (Nicholls).
Only four go to post with Deborah Cole’s Flight Deck, third in this 12 months ago, completing the line-up.
