McNeill excited by Dipper hopeful Thunder Rock Prominent owner Max McNeill is looking forward to seeing his unbeaten chaser Thunder Rock step up in class and trip in the Grade 2 Paddy Power (Registered as The Dipper) Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. He told @pphorseracing: “He won his first two races over fences well — we started him off over two miles first time at Uttoxeter and for the first mile he was outpaced and being honest it wasn’t very pleasant viewing. “But they went a good gallop and in the last four or five furlongs, he rounded them in and stayed on really well over a trip that was too short. But I like starting novices over two miles even if they’re two and a half milers. “The next day myself, Adrian [Heskin, jockey], Olly [Murphy, trainer] and Iain Turner [racing manager] all agreed that the step up to 2m 3f at Ascot which is a stiffer track would suit better and it did. “He travelled much better through the race at that stiffer venue going up the hill twice and it made a difference.” McNeill, who owns the progressive six-year-old, who is 5-2 second favourite with the sponsors, in partnership with Ian Dale, and connections then had the choice of two races and opted for the Paddy Power Novices’ Chase. “We had this race in mind or the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton, but we felt if we went to the flatter, speed track at Kempton, we were looking for trouble. “In a conversation between the four of us just before Christmas, we made the decision that the Paddy Power Novices’ Chase was right over an extended two and a half miles as that would be his distance and, at this stage, we felt he’d be better suited by this as a stayer. “We feel he’s got a really good chance and he schooled yesterday [Thursday] morning with The Wolf, who runs in the previous race at Cheltenham, and he was electric, Olly’s words not mine, and he’s been absolutely primed for this race for a good long while and it’s a super race. “We should have run Walkon in this race many years’ ago when he ran at Newbury the day before when he came up against Cue Card would you believe and we’re not going to make that mistake again. “It’s a good strong field with Monmiral in there to beat and I spoke to Paul Nicholls before Christmas and he loves the horse and Nigel Twiston-Davies has Beauport in there as well. “We’re rated 150 and Monmiral is 148 so looking at the ratings and I know it doesn’t always work out like this but we should be favourite on paper. “All being well and we come back for The Festival, he’d go for the Turners Novices’ Chase which is the target at the moment, but this is an important run and we’ll see how he goes. It would be great to win to show he is a genuine two and a half miler which we think he is. “Also I’ve met Paddy Power a couple of times and I know his racecourse man Binners well and it’s about time and it would be very nice if I received one of their Pants trophies from him although I don’t want to tempt fate!” Paddy Power Novices’ Chase Paddy Power bet : 6-5 Monmiral, 5-2 Thunder Rock, 9-2 Beauport, 8 The Real Whacker, 12 Harper’s Brook, 50 Mortlach
