Ascot Chase the target for Top Notch Grade One winner Top Notch will bypass an outing in the Unibet Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday. The Nicky Henderson trained eight-year-old will remain in Britain and head to the Betfair Ascot Chase on February 16th, in which he finished fourth in 12 months ago. After taking third on his seasonal bow in the JLT Hurdle at Ascot, the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned gelding opened his account for the campaign on his return to fences in a Listed prize at Kempton earlier this month. Anthony Bromley, racing manager to the owners, said: "Top Notch is not going to go the Irish Gold Cup, instead we are going to wait for the Ascot Chase. "He has been a very reliable horse on the whole and has been a great horse for the owners and Daryl Jacob, and the yard love him. "It was great to see him back to winning ways at Kempton and he beat two good horses in Charbel and Black Corton. "It has been a bit of a catch up this season after he bad reaction to a flu jab and we had a lot of plans before Christmas. "It is nice to get that win under his belt and we are looking forward to seeing how he takes his next race."
