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Shantou Village is set for a first crack over fences in the Josie O'Leary, Nicola, Becky And Archie Pineapple Novices' Chase at Fontwell on Thursday.

The six-year-old won his first three starts for trainer Neil Mulholland last term before having to give best to subsequent Cheltenham Festival runner-up Yanworth in January.

Shantou Village also ran at the Festival but was pulled up in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and Mulholland is keen to run while the ground is riding on the quicker side.

He said: "Shantou Village is likely to go to Fontwell on Thursday for a two-mile-five novice chase. He is also in at Cartmel on Saturday, but the preference is Fontwell. The track has been lucky for me.

"He had one run in a point to point and won that and he is in good order. He won't be running in November or December as he wants faster ground.

"We ran him last January at Cheltenham to see if he would handle the soft ground and although he finished second, he was not the same horse on it.

"We will try to get a couple of novice chases in and then give him a break before bringing him back in the second half of the season."