*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
Ruby Walsh has given his take on the National Hunt Chase ahead of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.
The 3m6f Grade 2 event is usually reserved solely for amateur riders but will be contested by professionals this year due to UK Government restrictions on grassroots sport.
There are 23 fences to be jumped around the Old Course at Prestbury Park, and Ruby can only see one winner – if his selection actually ends up running.
Speaking on the latest episode of Paddy Power’s ‘Countdown to Cheltenham’ podcast, our resident jockey-turned-pundit explained why the National Hunt Chase is so hard to predict with only one horse specifically targeted at it this year. You can listen to the full show BELOW.
Remember, we’re offering non-runner money back on every single contest at the Cheltenham Festival so you don’t lose out if your pick doesn’t race.
I don’t think Willie Mullins targets this race with certain horses – every horse starts out hoping to be as good as it can, and the picture becomes clearer throughout the year about what kind of horse might suit a certain race.
If you look at the National Hunt Chase, it’s pretty obvious to see that GALVIN has been targeted at it for quite a while. He was runner-up in the Novice Handicap Chase last season, he didn’t win over fences until he won at Killarney in July and he came back to Cheltenham to have the required run over 3m in October to qualify for this race. He’s probably the one horse in the race that has actually been targeted at it.
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You have ROYALE PAGAILLE who has hardly been targeted at it, LATEST EXHIBITION is going to Fairyhouse I believe, ESCARIA TEN could run in the Kim Muir, NEXT DESTINATION may well run in the RSA. SECRET REPRIEVE is the Welsh National winner, and it’s hard to say he was targeted at the National Hunt Chase at the start of the year – it’s more likely he was targeted at the Welsh National.
DICKIE DIVER and LONGHOUSE POET would be of interest, and Willie has LORD ROYAL but when he made his debut over fences at Thurles I’m sure Willie will have been hoping he was an RSA horse. It hasn’t worked out for him and he’s still a maiden over fences so he would be a good price in this race.
When you look through this race, there is only one horse that has been targeted at it and that is Galvin.
Lord Royal is probably the only horse the Mullins yard has qualified for this, outside of Monkfish, and he’s the only one we have entered. He was second over 3m behind Mr Hendricks at Navan while The Big Dog was third. If you go by The Big Dog, the race worked out but if you go by Mr Hendricks it hasn’t. Defi Bleu was fourth in that race and he ran terribly at Naas last time out.
Cheltenham tips: National Hunt Chase antepost bets from Frank Hickey
Lord Royal ran poorly in Naas behind Espanito Bello and Coko Beach. Longhouse Poet was third, and Lord Royal was a further 16 lengths back in fifth. He obviously fell on his chasing debut at Thurles when Eurobot ended up winning. It’s debatable whether he would have won that race or not. He posted a really good time figure when he won a maiden hurdle at Clonmel, and that has maybe elevated him in people’s minds but his form on the track is only okay. I thought he would be more of an Irish National Horse but Willie has him in here.
I think Galvin has a really good chance but if I had anything to do with it – and I don’t – I would be running Royale Pagaille here. You’re looking to win as many races as you can at the festival, and this is where Royale Pagaille would be going. I think Galvin has been well targeted and is an obvious bet, but I would still be backing Royale Pagaille non-runner money back. If he runs, he would have to go off odds-on.
David Pipe’s horse, REMASTERED, won the Reynoldstown recently and although he is in a couple of handicaps, the races will start cutting up soon as people start seeing who will go where. He stayed really well and jumped really well the last day. Without amateur jockeys, David will have Tom Scudamore riding him so he could be a good each-way bet.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
Ruby Walsh’s National Hunt Chase bet summary
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL‘S BIG RACES
March 16 – 13.20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 16 – 13.55 – Arkle Chase latest odds and tips
March 16 – 15.05 – Champion Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 16 – 15.40 – Mares’ Hurdle latest odds and tips
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 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 One schedule
13:20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
13.55 – Arkle Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y
14.30 – Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f
15.05 – Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
15.40 – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y
16.15 – Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 87y
16.50 – National Hunt Chase (Grade 2) 3m 5f 201y
*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.
Read More on Cheltenham 2021
- Cheltenham Festival dates, race times and antepost picks from our experts
- Cheltenham Festival: Are fans allowed to attend?
- Cheltenham Festival: Willie Mullins’ top runners rated and slated
- Cheltenham tips: Frank Hickey’s National Hunt Chase antepost pick
- Cheltenham tips: 6 favourites worth following at the 2021 festival
- Cheltenham tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s 5 to thrive in 2021
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