Wayward Lad Novices' Chase Tips: Gino To Outspeed Ballyburn

In potentially the best ever renewal of the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase, it is a clash of the titans from Closutton and Seven Barrows that is stealing the show. Billy Grimshaw has, like in his preview of the Christmas Hurdle, come down strongly in favour of the home side at Kempton...

It's time for a hearty pat on the back, jumps racing fans. We must have all been very, very good this year for Santa to have blessed us with this stunning set of two Mullins vs Henderson clashes on offer at Kempton over this festive period. Perhaps Constitution Hill vs Lossiemouth will attract more eyeballs, but make no mistake; SIR GINO vs Ballyburn in a novice chase this early in the campaign is a phenomenal race to salivate over.

There are some who will never oppose Ballyburn, and I can fully see the case. This horse is a beast; he'd have been a short enough price for the Champion Hurdle had Willie Mullins opted to send him that way and his win last year in the Turners Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham was effortlessly impressive. I think this is a definite Gold Cup contender if not winner of the future and would be very sweet on him facing off against almost any novice chaser in Britain or Ireland over any trip. Almost any novice chaser.

Kempton is one of the sharpest tracks in the UK and is massively speed favouring, especially over this trip. Just four have been declared and one of the quartet is Rubaud a high class open company hurdler who will ensure there is no hiding place for the remaining trio by bowling along from the front. This is his chase debut so of course he could make a mistake and change the shape of the race entirely, but assuming he stays on his feet this will be a right test of speed. In a test of speed, there is perhaps only a peak form Constitution Hill I'd back against Sir Gino.

The Fighting Fifth win was so, so impressive from Sir Gino at Newcastle recently and there is just something about this horse that oozes star quality. There will be naysayers and stats boffins who exclaim how poorly most four year olds do in their novice chase season, and while that may be true there are very few who've tried in the same stratosphere in terms of ability as Sir Gino. This lad has looked rapid over hurdles and if the mumblings out of Seven Barrows are to be believed, he is an even better jumper of a fence.

Sometimes Sir Gino gave his hurdles too little respect and clattered them, but his engine more than made up for these mishaps. If he is a smidgen more careful when jumping the bigger obstacles, he could be absolutely electric as a two mile chaser and we could be watching the start of a career that encompasses multiple Champion Chase victories. Perhaps only Majborough after his stunning chase debut would bring as much to the table as Sir Gino does in my eyes and convince me to back against Ballyburn, but one thing is certain this will be a brilliant and informative race.

I believe if the intermediate novice chase still existed at the Festival in March Ballyburn would be guaranteed to go there, however as an antepost backer for the Brown Advisory my stall is set out - this lad is a stayer. His sheer talent would be enough for him to win over two miles at most courses against most rivals, but he will face off here with Britain's best hope of the Arkle winner. I think he'll struggle to travel as strongly as Sir Gino going at the pace Rubaud, or even Sir Gino himself later in the race, sets and so I am doing something I did not think I'd do for many a year - taking on Ballyburn with confidence. Don't worry though, we may well have the Arkle and Brown Advisory winners of 2025 facing off right here so be sure to tune in and enjoy it!