'We watched him school and he was electric' - Goshen camp confident

Saturday: 1.30 AscotAscot Underwriting Novices' Limited Handicap Chase | 2m3f | 4yo+ | ITV/Sky

This race often provides a strong form line for the rest of the season. While Goshen's presence possibly erodes that, he has forced his three rivals and any novice rated less than 146 out of the weights, and he upholds the second tradition in this race.

No one has a better record in this than Gary Moore, Goshen's trainer. He has been represented in the race every year since 2015 and has had two winners, a second and a fourth from five runners since 2017.

That is not the only trend Goshen has in his favour. Since 2010, only two horses have run in a novice handicap chase off a mark equal to or higher than 157, which is what he runs off today.

Both of them have won – Bravemansgame at Newbury in February and Wishfull Thinking at the 2011 Punchestown festival – but then no amount of trends can contain Goshen, who is one of the most engaging horses in training.

He is an obscene talent who has often failed on the big days through either misfortune (tripped himself up in the 2020 Triumph Hurdle) or his own doing (hung badly right in the 2021 Champion Hurdle).

His wilder tendencies are a big part of the reason that some have reservations about Goshen as a chaser. He is bred for the Flat and that does not help his case, though at six he is not as late to this discipline as many similar types.

With nothing new to go on except his connections' word that Goshen has schooled well, it would be bold to get heavily involved at cramped odds.

Admittedly, if he takes to it, Goshen at odds against is a smashing price for a successful chasing debut. Those who are minded might decide that a shade of odds on after a few safely-cleared fences is a better play.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

Packham dreaming of big season for Goshen

Despite sampling the delights of Dubai on a family holiday, attention for Goshen's proud owner Steven Packham will firmly be on a drizzly Berkshire on Saturday afternoon.

Goshen's chasing debut is believed to be a crucial moment in his career as connections hope the new discipline can spark a return to the freakish level he once rose to as a juvenile.

Packham, who will watch Saturday's race from a Dubai sports bar, said: "I'm very excited about going novice chasing. We watched him school and he was electric – it was really good. He's got to give weight away against good horses in their own right but he's in great form."

There has been plenty of steep highs and lows to experience as Goshen's owner.

The devastation of a final-flight unseat in the 2020 Triumph Hurdle is impossible to forget but the six-year-old has been simply mesmerising when on song, as displayed when courageously defending his Kingwell Hurdle crown at Wincanton in February.

Goshen: makes his chasing debut on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Yet connections did not feel he was at his best last season but now, following an encouraging second in a prep run at Goodwood, confidence is high that the real Goshen is back.

Packham added: "It was the wrong ground and trip and he wasn't completely tuned up, but he still finished a neck second to Tritonic.

"Hector [Crouch] felt at Goodwood that he had his old enthusiasm back. All the signs area very positive so we're hopeful he'll run a big race."

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Samarrive
He loves going right-handed and his three wins for us have been that way round. This decent ground will suit him well too. We always thought he'd be a nice chaser so hopefully he can run a nice race.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Gowel Road
He's had a jump round whereas some of the others haven't, so he's got that experience. He's racing from a bit out of the handicap, but he's very straightforward.

Ben Case, trainer of Cobblers Dream
He's schooled well and ran in a point-to-point in Ireland so hopefully he should be fine. I toyed with going to Uttoxeter but they didn't get the rain and this ground will be fine. He seems in pretty good form but whether we're up to this sort of category we'll find out. I'm looking forward to him running and seeing how we get on, I think we'll all learn about him a bit more.
Reporting by James Stevens

Saturday's race previews:

2.25 Wetherby: will talent over readiness prevail in the Listed Mares' Hurdle?

2.40 Ascot: 'He's better here than anywhere else' - who wins out of the Ascot specialists?

3.00 Wetherby: can Sporting John make up for lost time on his return from a 287-day absence?

3.15 Ascot: 'He loves it at Ascot' - course form can come to the fore in valuable handicap

3.35 Wetherby: 'Everything looks right for him' - Nicholls on Charlie Hall contender Bravemansgame

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