Handicappers' Corner 
/ Gregg Taylor / 22 February 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Recession Proof is flanked by Bothy and Notus de La Tour as he takes the last en route to victory in the totesport Trophy
"He [Noland] was favoured by the weights and had the run of things to an extent, however, and is likely to have his work cut out if heading next to the Ryanair at the Festival"
Timeform handicapper Gregg Taylor analyses the highlights from Newbury's rescheduled totesport Trophy meeting at Newbury on Friday, as well as looking back on Saturday's Ascot Chase.
The postponement of the previous Saturday's card arguably hit the totesport Trophy more than the other races on the day, with numbers reduced and the fall in prizemoney meaning its long-held title as Britain's most valuable handicap hurdle didn't apply. In a thrilling finish to the contest, however, Recession Proof (h141) took his record over hurdles to three from four in little under four months and his form up a notch in the process as he defeated Bothy (h140) a short head. He has been rated as value for closer to a length victory after almost throwing the race away by wavering on the run-in, having moved alongside going best of the first three by some way.
The runner-up matched the form of his second to Menorah in the Greatwood from a 9 lb higher mark, having also raced to the fore throughout, whilst the front-running Notus de La Tour (143) improved a little on the form of last season's Fred Winter second as he finished one and a quarter lengths back in third.
Soldatino (h152p) remains a potentially high-class hurdler for all he's come up short in two handicaps since finally making it back, inconvenienced here by a baulk turning in and early mistakes that saw him drop towards the rear. Favourite Walkon (h153) also met some trouble in running but moreover left the impression that his hard-fought second at Ascot the previous month had left its mark.
Noland (c150+) had proved most disappointing in a handicap at Cheltenham on Cotswold Chase day but, re-equipped with a tongue strap, returned to a level of form much more in keeping with his high-class best when landing the Aon Chase. He was favoured by the weights and had the run of things to an extent, however, and is likely to have his work cut out if heading next to the Ryanair at the Festival.
His stable-companion What A Friend (c160) was conceding 10 lb to both him and the third and ran right up to his best in going down by a head. Yet, he again tended to race lazily and looked most awkward under pressure. He holds entries in the Gold Cup and the Grand National, though a repeat victory in the Bowl at Aintree might be a more achievable target. Fair Along (c148) also ran right up to the pick of his form over fences on his first outing in this sphere since 2007/8. His jumping was hesitant at times though he typically stuck on gamely in the straight.
The Game Spirit Chase half an hour later lacked a serious Champion Chase contender for once and it's probably best to take a cautious view of the form, with few giving their running and the proximity of Oiseau de Nuit in third supporting such a judgement. However, French Opera (c161) put his disappointing reappearance behind him to return to his best with a six-length beating of a slightly below-par Tchico Polos (c156). He may well go up in the weights for this, which would make his task harder if tackling the Grand Annual, whilst he's still got something to find with the principles in the Champion Chase.
French Opera's trainer Nicky Henderson was also in big race-winning form the following day courtesy of Riverside Theatre (c167) in the Ascot Chase. The seven-year-old matched the form of his King George second and confirmed himself a top-class chaser with an authoritative success, travelling well for most of the way and quickening on two out to beat a back-to-form Gauvain (c158) by ten lengths. He was short of experience when fifth in the Arkle on his only previous visit to Cheltenham and will hold strong claims if returning there for the Ryanair next month.
The runner-up returned to something like the level of form that had seen him win a valuable minor event at Cheltenham in November, up with the pace for much of the way and beating the remainder convincingly. Big Fella Thanks (c151) has the Grand National as his longer-term target and shaped well with that in mind in finishing fourth, having not been not knocked about by Dominic Elsworth after a bad mistake three out. Tartak (c160) was seeking a hat-trick following wins in the Peterborough Chase and a Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham, but he was let down by his jumping, too.
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