Pobbles Bay looking to take next step up the ladder at Warwick

Today's Betfred Mobile Hampton Novices' Chase at Warwick looks like being an informative affair.Seven go to post, four of whom won last time out, with Evan Williams' Pobbles Bay putting his unbeaten record over fences on the line.No more than an average hurdler, he looks a completely different proposition over fences.He won at Uttoxeter on his chasing debut and confirmed the impression when winning a classy race at Chepstow last time out.Williams had planned to give him a break but he is in such good heart, he turns out again just 18 days later.The likes of Rocky Creek and Black Hercules have won this race recently. "He's a lovely horse, I couldn't think he'd be doing what he is because he wasn't that good a hurdler," said Williams. "He wasn't half as good as he's looked over fences already.In time he's going to be a lovely staying chaser, but quite how classy he is, I don't know. "He won what looked just an ordinary race at Uttoxeter at the time, but the form worked out incredibly well."Then last time at Chepstow he beat a Cheltenham Festival winner (Ibis Du Rheu) rather easy."I was going to give him a break but he came out of it so well I thought if he's in good nick we may as well run."I don't know if he's up to this, but we may as well find out."Rebecca Curtis' Mystical Knight did not put a foot wrong on his chasing debut at Hereford, beating Chef D´Oeuvre who takes him on again. "Touch wood he was very good at Hereford for his first run over fences," said owner JP McManus' racing manager Frank Berry. "He came out of that race very well and we're looking forward to seeing how he'll get on in a better race."Whether he wants to be going much further than this (with the four-miler in mind) I'm not so sure, we'll just see."David Pipe's Champers On Ice, a close third in the Albert Bartlett, and an easy winner at Uttoxeter on his chasing debut, and Harry Fry's American also bring strong claims into the race.