Dan too good for West at Plumpton Deputy Dan comfortably saw off main rival Far West to get off the mark over fences in the SIS Live Novices' Chase at Plumpton. Oliver Sherwood's inmate was a Grade Two winner over hurdles last season, but was beaten by the Paul Nicholls-trained Virak when runner-up on his debut over larger obstacles at Fontwell last month. The six-year-old was a 5-6 favourite to go one better, with Nicholls' Far West, also second on his fencing bow at Exeter, an 11-4 shot. With the only other runner, My Silver Cloud, predictably outclassed, the protagonists dominated from the outset, both jumping well in the main. Deputy Dan began to pull clear in the hands of Leighton Aspell once the tempo increased, despite showing a tendency to jump to his right. Sam Twiston-Davies did his best to get Far West back on terms in the straight, but Sherwood's charge was too strong and despite getting tired on the run-in, he passed the post comfortably clear. Coneygree, who struck twice at Grade Two level over hurdles for Mark Bradstock, was disappointingly withdrawn at the start ahead of what was due to be his first competitive start in 660 days. Sherwood told At The Races: "I'm delighted with his performance. "He did just go right but he loves that ground and he's a proper stayer. "We all want to go to Cheltenham but I might have a look at a race at Newbury while the ground is soft."
