A COUPLE of novice chasers worthy of mention from last weekend are Minella Indo and Sam Brown.

On a Navan card which featured a high-quality handicap hurdle effort from the still-improving Kilfenora (151 on time), Minella Indo took the novice chase with an assured round of jumping in a figure of 141 (includes a 2lb upgrade).

Given the progress he made last spring, he’s obviously a contender for the RSA, as is Sam Brown who came home 15 lengths clear of Knight In Dubai in a timefigure of 147 at Haydock. Two positive aspects of Sam Brown’s performance were that his win came at an unsuitably short two and a half miles on ground much less soft than the official description would have had us believe.

He clearly isn’t as dependent on bad ground as his form figures would suggest.

Mullins’ bumper attack

Market Rasen isn’t a course normally associated with market movers at Cheltenham but equally it isn’t a track where one expects to come across Willie Mullins.

Best known for its extensive rail movements - totalling over 26 miles since the start of 2018 - the Lincolnshire venue’s flagship contest, the Alan Swinbank Mares Standard Open bumper, was won easily by Mullins’ Panic Attack (timerating 109, including a 15lb upgrade) who went straight to the head of the Champion Bumper market.

Impressive as that was, better long-term prospects looked to be on show at Newbury in the shape of Your Darling and Flinteur Sacre. The former is reputedly held in the same regard by Best Mate’s trainer as Best Mate himself, while the runner-up is a full-brother to Sprinter Sacre.

The Cheltenham bumper might not be on the agenda for Your Darling, but a 108 effort on his debut means we are sure to hear more about him.

Graeme North’s ratings can be

found on Twitter at Graeme North

@jumpspacemaps. Simon Rowlands will return next week.