GOOD novice chasing efforts have been coming at us thick and fast of late, and, while this is not yet a vintage campaign in the way that last season’s proved to be (think Might Bite, Thistlecrack, Altior and Our Duke), there is considerable strength in depth on show. A summary is called for.

Presenting Percy (153) and Death Duty (151) - both mentioned elsewhere - are in second and third on time among novice chasers, behind Brain Power (154), who beat little but smashed the clock when winning at Kempton recently by 28 lengths. The likelihood is that Brain Power will prove to be an Arkle horse.

NOVICE CHASERS

There are then three novice chasers on 149: namely, Alcala (from winning the Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July), North Hill Harvey (two two-mile wins from two at Cheltenham) and Sceau Royal (who gave 5lb to North Hill Harvey when beaten just a neck by him in October).

Others high up include 148-rated Bamako Moriviere, 147-rated Capitaine (a wide-margin and fast-time winner at Market Rasen in October), Bigmartre (who ran a 146 timefigure when winning on the undercard at Newbury last week) and the mare Mia’s Storm (145 for winning a Listed Mares’ Chase at Market Rasen a month ago).

Such is the log-jam near the top of this particular division that a horse as talented as Footpad is actually just outside the top-20 with a figure of 144 for his most impressive defeat of Brelade at Navan on his only appearance over larger obstacles.

Plenty of the aforementioned have potential to improve, but perhaps none of them more so than Footpad, who was, of course, second in an Irish Champion Hurdle and fourth in the Cheltenham equivalent earlier this year, achieving a 153 timefigure in the process.

The picture is likely to become clearer in the three months between now and the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Working through that should be a fascinating process in itself.