Fire fighter

FOX CAN BOX OFF NAAS RIVALS

- JACOBS' Crackers

LAST year’s novice hurdlers may well have been consigned to the bin marked ordinary by some but FIREFOX (1.55) can bring that category back to life by landing the Grade Two Racing Post Novice Chase at Naas this afternoon.

This significant novice event has been won by some good youngsters in the past and there was plenty to like about Gordon Elliott’s charge from his two starts over fences.

He was mightily impressive on his debut at Down Royal, travelling powerfully and putting the race to bed when asked for his effort, and then wasn’t suited by the stop-start nature of the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse.

The seven-year-old was only beaten half a length that day though and can pick up the prominent running pair of Ile Antique and Inthepocket on the final climb here.