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Goulanes grabs Grade 2 on chase debut

Trainer David PipeTrainer David Pipe
© Photo Healy Racing

Goulanes (12/5 fav) came with a well-timed challenge to lift the totepool.com Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby.

David Pipe's challenger was pitched in at the deep end on his chasing bow in this Grade Two contest but the former Irish point-to-pointer jumped well en route to opening his account.

Restless Harry had taken the field along in the contest over three miles and a furlong and the race proceeded without incident until Fill The Power fell at the first in the back straight on the final circuit.

Fourjacks was hampered by that fall but soon closed up with the main group and only around four lengths covered the field as they began to turn for home.

Restless Harry had cried enough before they had hit the straight and Fentara took over as Super Duty made a slight mistake at the first in the straight.

Jason Maguire's mount was back in front when jumping the next better than the mare and increased his advantage when she made a tired mistake at the last.

Tom Scudamore, however, had quietly progressed towards the inside of the track and, having safely negotiated the last, switched his mount for a well-timed run which saw the pair prevail by a head.

"We think a bit of him, as you won't be surprised to hear given that he is now unbeaten in three for us," Scudamore told Racing UK.

"Whatever you ask of him, he's going to keep coming back for more. He's not a flashy horse but he knows where the winning line is and that's what matters.

"I'll leave it to Mr Pipe and Mr [Roger) Brookhouse [successful owner] as to where we go next, but it's nice to have such strength in the novice chase ranks."

Asked to compare the winner with Dynaste, Scudamore responded: "You couldn't really compare them at all as about all they have in common is that they are unbeaten over fences.

"Dynaste has loads of speed, jumps well and could even go back in trip, whereas Goulanes is more of a grinder. Maybe at some point in the future they will meet but I hope it's not for a while yet!"

Sky Bet cut the odds of Goulanes from 50/1 to 25/1 for the RSA Chase and from 20/1 to 14/1 for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.