Rebel Du Maquis

Rebel Du Maquis put up a taking display on his chasing debut in the Cheltenham World Of Jump Racing Novices’ Chase over two and a half miles on the Old Course on Friday. He jumped and travelled well from the front throughout, looking very nimble and athletic at his fences. He fought off Frontier Dancer before the newly sited second last and stayed on well up the hill, seeming to pick up again in the final hundred yards and finish full of energy. Rebel Du Maquis was bought out of Marcel Rolland’s yard in France after finishing second in a four-year-old chase at Auteuil in May 2009. He looked to be a very exciting recruit last season for Paul Nicholls when he won on his British debut over the smaller obstacles in October 2009 at Exeter by 17 lengths. He then rather lost his way slightly before finding some form again in the spring when forcing tactics were re-applied.

As of yet it is unclear what the form of this win is worth as he faced just three rivals, one of which Gee Dee Nen has become fairly hit and miss, and another, Wolf Moon, who surely needs three miles over fences. The second horse though, and favourite for this race, Frontier Dancer, was a 139-rated hurdler at his peak and had looked impressive when winning his first chase start at Perth by 13 lengths three weeks previously, suggesting there is some ballast to this form. Rebel Du Maquis is undoubtedly an exciting young chaser for the season ahead, and could be one for the new two-and-a-half-mile novice chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

15th October 2010