Stylish Top Notch wins at Sandown

Top Notch’s impressive form over the jumps continued as he notched up his fourth successive win with a dominant performance in the Betfred TV Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown.

The 11-4 winner will now run at the Cheltenham festival and may run in the JLT Novices' Chase.

Despite Amore Alato and Baron Alco making all the running early on, the Nicky Henderson trained six-year-old jumped with proficiency, taking the final fence with ease to claim the win by five lengths from Baron Alco, with Le Prezien trotting home for third.

Winning jockey Darryl Jacob admitted his delight and insisted Top Notch has to come through a real test.

"It was a great performance. That was a real test for him. He's not the biggest in the world but he makes up for it with his heart," Jacob said.

"He deserves it. He's very, very consistent and he always tries his heart out.

"This was a big step and it told us a lot."

While trainer Henderson feels the winner will suit two-and-a-half-mile, and admitted he will be entered into the JLT Novices' Chase.

"This is a real favourite. He's nearer a pet than a racehorse. He came as a juvenile hurdler and I thought that was all he ever would be," Henderson said.

"He had a good year last year. He won the Morebattle (Kelso) and was fifth in the Champion (Hurdle) and had nowhere to go so we tried him over a fence.

"He was beaten first time out (over fences). Then we found him two lovely, easy races and you could see him grow in stature and confidence.

"Daryl says the two and a half miles suits him well. It will probably be the JLT he'll go for at Cheltenham."

Image/GettyImaes/AlanCrowhurst

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