Un Temps Pour Tout out to star in hot novice chase at Newbury

David Pipe expects the flat nature of the track at Newbury to suit Un Temps Pour Tout down to the ground in the bet365 Novices' Chase on Thursday.

The French Champion Hurdle hero features among a high-quality field of seven set to take their chance in the extended two-mile-seven-furlong Grade Two prize, registered as the Worcester Novices' Chase.

Although the six-year-old suffered a surprise reverse on his chasing bow at Cheltenham, the Pond House handler has been pleased with his work at home since.

Pipe said: "He jumped well at Cheltenham, but he just got a bit tired up the home straight.

"Tom Scudamore came to ride him in the week and he jumped nicely. We could do with the ground being softer, but we want to get more experience into him.

"He will like Newbury and will handle that flat track. Although his last run was only 12 days ago he seems to have come out of it well.

"Although we are running him quickly the idea is to run him here then hopefully go to the Feltham afterwards. We will get over (Thursday) first, though, before thinking about that."

Charlie Longsdon is convinced the trip will prove to be no issue for Killala Quay, despite previous shortcomings over it.

After failing to get his head in front in four starts over fences last season, the eight-year-old put the record right with a taking win on his seasonal return at Uttoxeter last month.

Longsdon said: "As expected this is a very strong race and you can make a case for every single horse in the race.

"Our lad started off with a win over two and a half miles at Uttoxeter, but I think he wants three miles and the jockeys that have ridden him have said that.

"He was meant to run a few weeks ago, he didn't quite get there but he is good now. The first time he was tried over three he was over the top after a busy novice hurdle campaign and then the second time our horses weren't right.

"There are no hiding places as it is a Grade Two, but he is a Grade Two winner over hurdles and there is no reason why he can't be over fences."

The well-regarded Beast Of Burden failed to complete on his chasing debut at Chepstow in October after departing at the penultimate fence when still holding every chance.

Having been given plenty of time to get over that experience, trainer Rebecca Curtis is hopeful the six-year-old can show what he is capable of over fences this time round.

She said: "He was going well the last day until he made a mistake two out, but he has been schooling well since and has been going well at home. He is pretty straightforward and has been a lot easier to train this season.

"He was in at Bangor on Saturday, but one of the reasons we've come to Newbury is that we knew Paul Townend, who has ridden him lots of times, was going to be there.

"With there being so many meetings on Saturday he was unlikely to be at Bangor, and I'd rather keep the same jockey on board. Another reason we wanted to come to Newbury is that it will be a better race and we want to see where we are at with him."

Paul Nicholls' chances of winning the race for the ninth time rest with recent Kempton winner Port Melon, while Dan Skelton gives a chasing debut to the exciting Value At Risk.

A smart bumper horse when with Philip Fenton in Ireland, Value At Risk will be having his fourth outing for Skelton and was most recently seen when fifth in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Skelton said: "I've been looking forward to running Value At Risk over fences. He has done lots of jumping and work at home and has been in since July so he is fit and ready. Hopefully it will be his time to shine.

"I can't talk him up yet, but at the same time I can't say anything negative. We were going to go to Bangor three weeks ago with him, but the ground was just a bit sharp for him there and I think this track will suit him.

"Although he won well last time he was there, that was a novice hurdle and this is a very different kettle of fish. It looks a very good race."