*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
The Festival Novices’ Chase contributes towards a bumper start to day two of the Cheltenham Festival, coming hot on the heels of the opener – the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
Formerly known as the RSA Chase and recently renamed the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, this Grade 1 steeplechase features 20 fences over a stamina-sapping 3m trip.
CHELTENHAM TIPS: RUBY WALSH’S CHEAT SHEET FOR ALL OF WEDNESDAY’S RACES
Several past winners such as Lord Windermere have gone on to taste victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, while Presenting Percy and Champ are just some of the eye-catching names to claim victory in recent years.
This time around it is Willie Mullins’ Monkfish who is the one to beat, with the towering charger having adapted brilliantly to chasing after winning the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle last season.
Remember to check out our snazzy racecards for the details on all of today’s seven renewals, while you can watch every race for FREE with Paddy Power.
Festival Novices’ Chase runners and odds
CHELTENHAM RACECARDS: DAY 2 RUNNERS AND RIDERS FOR EVERY RACE
Festival Novices’ Chase tips
Ruby Walsh: “MONKFISH is a very polished chaser already, and he does everything that you would want a horse to do. He’s a good jumper, he travels nicely and his times are favourable compared to the Savills Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas. You have to like what he’s done.”
Frank Hickey: “MONKFISH has got the better of Latest Exhibition twice now.”
FULL PREVIEW: RUBY WALSH AND FRANK HICKEY REVEAL ANTEPOST PICKS FOR FESTIVAL NOVICES’ CHASE
James Shortt: “MONKFISH has the form in the book and positive trends to secure victory and could become fourth winning favourite in the past seven years if securing victory.”
FULL PREVIEW: CHELTENHAM STATS FOR WEDNESDAY’S GRADE 1 RACES
Rob Catterson: “Not since Denman in the 2006/07 season has a horse dominated the staying novice chase division as much as MONKFISH. The one thing that the Willie Mullins-trained chestnut has over Paul Nicholls’ legendary chaser is that he’s already a winner at the Cheltenham Festival.”
FULL PREVIEW: WILLIE MULLINS’ CONTENDERS RATED OR SLATED
Mick Fitzgerald: “I have been a huge fan of MONKFISH from the get-go and I see no reason to change my mind.”
FULL PREVIEW: MICK FITZGERALD’S BEST BETS FOR DAY 2 OF THE FESTIVAL
Matt Chapman: “If MONKFISH had been in the Gold Cup I would have been tipping him up and I think you could argue he’s big odds here even though for most he looks short.”
FULL PREVIEW: MATT CHAPMAN’S BEST BETS FOR DAY TWO OF THE FESTIVAL
Gina Bryce: “In a week that will inevitably burst the bubbles of several so-called bankers, the one horse that looks infallible is MONKFISH.”
FULL PREVIEW: GINA BRYCE’S BEST BETS FOR DAY 2 OF THE 2021 FESTIVAL
DON’T MISS
- DON’T MISS OUR BRAND NEW SNAZZY RACECARDS FOR EVERY SINGLE RACE TODAY
- … THEN CHECK OUT ALL THE WINNERS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE WITH OUR FAST RESULTS
Festival Novices’ Chase Trainers’ verdict
Willie Mullins, trainer of Monkfish: “He has done nothing wrong all year and he appears to be in very good order. He’s three from three over fences and we’re very hopeful that he will continue the winning sequence here.”
Nicky Henderson, trainer of Dickie Diver: “He’s only had one run and he has a lot on his plate, but he’s got to go somewhere and he’s a good horse too. He will like the ground, that’s for sure.”
Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Eklat De Rire: “He’s travelled over great and I’m really happy with him. He’s just a really straightforward nice young staying chaser.”
Joe Tizzard, assistant to Colin, trainer of Fiddlerontheroof and The Big Breakaway: “We’ve said The Big Breakaway is our best chance of the meeting, he goes in second favourite and he looks really well at home. The Kempton run worked a purpose as he ran well and learned a lot from it. We’ve had a good prep with him and we’re really excited about running. Harry [Cobden] will be riding him for the first time but he’s been schooling him a lot for the last two years and has been dying to get on him. Hopefully Monkfish can tow us into the race.
“We’ve put a tongue-tie on Fiddlerontheroof as his head came up a little bit at Warwick but it won’t do him any harm, it might help. He’s rated 148 and he’s done nothing wrong all season, he just keeps bumping into a good horse. This trip might just help him so I expect him to run a nice race.”
Philip Hobbs, trainer of Sporting John: “He’s won a Grade 1 and is hopefully progressive. He’s only had two runs over fences so is not that experienced and a small field is ideal.”
When is the Festival Novices’ Chase?
The Festival Novices’ Chase is the second race on day two of Cheltenham Festival 2021, on Wednesday March 17. The race is scheduled to start at 13.55.
TODAY AT CHELTENHAM…
- Click here for all of Wednesday’s Racecards
- Not got a clue who to back? Our footy quiz will help
- LIVE BLOG: All the action as it happens on Day 2
Festival Novices’ Chase winners at last five festivals
2020 – Champ (Horse), Barry Geraghty (Jockey), Nicky Henderson (Trainer)
2019 – Topofthegame, Harry Cobden, Paul Nicholls
2018 – Presenting Percy, Davy Russell, Patrick Kelly
2017 – Might Bite, Nico de Boinville, Nicky Henderson
2016 – Blaklion, Ryan Hatch, Nigel Twiston-Davies
Cheltenham tips: Shishkin, Envoi Allen and Monkfish in our enhanced 9/1 Treble
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL‘S BIG RACES
March 17 – 13.20 – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 17 – 13.55 – Festival Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips
March 17 – 15.05 – Queen Mother Champion Chase latest odds and tips
March 17 – 16.50 – Champion Bumper latest odds and tips
March 18 – 13.20 – Marsh Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips
March 18 – 14.30 – Ryanair Chase latest odds and tips
March 18 – 15.05 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 19 – 13.20 – Triumph Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 19 – 14.30 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips
March 19 – 15.05 – Gold Cup latest odds and tips
March 19 – 16.15 – Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase latest odds and tips
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY TWO SCHEDULE
13:20 – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f
13.55 – Festival Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 3m 80y
14.30 – Coral Cup (Grade 3) 2m 5f
15.05 – Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y
15.40 – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f 37y
16.15 – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m 62y
16.50 – Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) 2m 87y
*Paddy will be all over your telly box throughout the Cheltenham Festival sponsoring ITV’s live coverage from Prestbury Park – and you can get free and exclusive tipping columns EVERY DAY from Ruby Walsh, Matt Chapman and Mick Fitzgerald here on PP News.
Cheltenham Day 3 Tips
- Mick Fitzgerald’s best bets for Thursday at Prestbury Park
- Matt Chapman’s selections for all of Day 3’s seven races
- Gina Bryce’s slick picks on St Patrick’s Thursday at Cheltenham
- Paddy Power Pundits’ Cheat Sheet for all of Thursday’s races
Read More on Cheltenham 2021
- Cheltenham Festival dates, race times and picks from our experts
- Cheltenham Festival: Are fans allowed to attend?
- Chacun Pour Soi has to deliver on the biggest stages, says Ruby Walsh
- Cheltenham tips: 6 favourites worth following at the 2021 festival
- Cheltenham tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s 5 to thrive in 2021
- Cheltenham tips: Queen Mother Champion Chase antepost picks
The Paddy Power Guide To Responsible Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
