Masaccio goes down with all guns blazing against The Jukebox Man at Newbury

Alan has made no secret of the fact that he rates his novice chasers this season an above-average crop, and maybe we saw the best so far at Newbury today in Masaccio, who ran a corker to chase home The Jukebox Man in the Grade 2 John Francome Novices’ Chase.

Taking on a horse rated 11lb superior over hurdles, Masaccio dug deep in an attempt to close down the bold-jumping Jukebox Man from the final fence, eventually being beaten two lengths.

The Jukebox Man had the class to finish third in the G1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury last December and was then pipped a head in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before pushing Dancing City all the way in another Grade 1, the Sefton Hurdle ay Aintree.

This was The Jukebox Man’s debut over fences, whereas Masaccio had won an open Grade 3 handicap chase over this course three weeks ago.

Yet, despite meeting The Jukebox Man at level weights, Masaccio travelled like a dream for Tom Cannon and, though stepping up two grades, he showed admirable resolution up the straight, proving without doubt that he can hold his own against the best novices over fences this winter.

Alan said:”I could not have been more pleased with Masaccio, but he was just chopped for pace early in the straight and looks to be crying out for a step up in trip.”

Tom Cannon agreed wholeheartedly, commenting:”It was a much stronger race than the one Masaccio won here last time, but he stuck his neck out from the last and ran all the way to the line. Moving up to three miles should suit him well.”