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National Hunt Chase

17:30 Cheltenham Festival

2024-03-12

Winner: £60,952.5

Runners: 7

Going: Heavy

No. of hurdles: 23

Distance: 3m5f201y

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The Maureen Mullins National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Novices' Chase, known as the National Hunt Chase, is a novice chase for amateur riders over 3m6f at the Cheltenham Festival. Up until 2019 it was run over 4m but the distance was reduced due to welfare concerns after 2020's race, in which only four of the 18 runners completed. It is run as the final race on the first day of the festival.

NO.DRAW
FORM
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HORSE
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ODDS
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JOCKEY& TRAINER
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AGE
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WGT
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OR
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RPR
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4(0)
1-3332
silk
Kilbeg King

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J: Mr William Biddick
T: Anthony Honeyball
9
11-7
142
159
Won well in 3m handicap hurdle at Punchestown (good to yielding) last April; minor honours this season in all four chases, wearing tongue-tie and cheekpieces over 3m on last two; rallied when beaten a head by Henry's Friend in Ascot Grade 2 (3m, good to soft) on latest outing, but best form came when a near-15l third in Grade 1 at Kempton (3m, good) on Boxing Day and that run gives him one of the better form chances; good chance also that he will be suited by further than 3m.
6(0)
-11127
silk
Salvador Ziggy

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J: Mr R James
T: Gordon Elliott
8
11-7
154
159
Second here one year ago in the 3m Pertemps Final (soft) as hurdler; took well to chasing, winning on first three attempts before second of 17 in the Kerry National (3m, yielding to soft) in September; weakening late on in foray to the USA in October "may have been a case of one race too many," according to his trainer; put away for this race since and trainer has a good record in it; plausible for stamina and form, so one to consider seriously.
2(0)
1P6-11
silk
Embassy Gardens

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J: Mr P W Mullins
T: W P Mullins
8
11-7
150
161
The way he blew out at the Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals last spring as a novice hurdler is a nagging worry, but he justified odds-on favouritism without any bother when switched to fences this season in the mud at Punchestown (3m) and Naas (3m1f Grade 3); more settled in the latter, which probably brings this trip within range (he's also now hooded for the first time) and he's narrowly the best on form.
1(0)
O-312F
silk
Corbetts Cross

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J: Mr Derek O'Connor
T: Emmet Mullins
7
11-7
150
157
Favourite for Grade 1 Albert Bartlett novice hurdle here (3m, soft) one year ago and about 1l down at the last, only to duck out through the wing; got up close home in good 2m5f beginners chase at Fairyhouse (2m5f, soft) in December, before good second in Grade 1 event at Leopardstown (3m, soft); jump to his left led to a costly collision when 1-4 on latest outing; a hood is enlisted; not crying out for this longer trip but he's firmly in calculations.
7(0)
1-3123
silk
Apple Away

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J: Mr B O'Neill
T: Lucinda Russell
7
11-0
137
157
Often front-runner, including for her win in Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree (3m1f, soft) last April; yet to improve on that form as a chaser this term, but she has had Grade 2 assignments on last two outings (respectable third to Henry's Friend and Kilbeg King at Ascot last time) and there's plenty of the thorough stayer about her 3m performances.
5(0)
2P4-31
silk
Mr Vango

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J: Miss Gina Andrews
T: Mrs Sara V Bradstock
8
11-7
132
154
Won his only point and 1-4 over hurdles; it's as a chaser and long-distance chaser that he's coming seriously into his own, upped to nearly 3m7f for the Devon National at Exeter (heavy) 18 days ago and making all to win by 60l; that's not the easiest form to pinpoint but he's in the mix and the only one who has already ventured beyond 3m1f, which suited him so well; wears cheekpieces first time.
3(0)
0-5111
silk
Henry's Friend

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J: Mr Jack Andrews
T: Ben Pauling
7
11-7
142
152
Won novice handicaps at Newbury (2m6f, soft) and Hereford (2m5f, good to soft) before getting the better of Kilbeg King (by a head) and Apple Away to win five-runner Grade 2 novice at Ascot (3m, good to soft) last month; the last contest was in first-time cheekpieces; more improvement is needed but it looks as if he will stay beyond 3m.

RACING POST TIP

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silk
Salvador Ziggy
It's a small but competitive field, with much less between all of them on form than the betting might suggest. Preference is for SALVADOR ZIGGY who has not raced since October but had almost exactly the same layoff before his excellent second here on soft ground in last year's Pertemps Final. He's taken well to fences. Embassy Gardens (second choice) shapes like he's probably the class act among them but it's interesting to see that he is today fitted with a hood, as is Corbetts Cross, so their connections presumably have a nagging doubt over whether they will settle well enough to see out this marathon trip. Kilbeg King may emerge best among the three who fought out the Reynoldstown finish at Ascot, while Mr Vango has to be given a positive mention as the only one who has proved himself over this sort of trip.

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NATIONAL HUNT CHASE PREVIOUS WINNERS

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Year Horse Previous Form Age Price Trainer Jockey
2023 Gaillard Du Mesnil 213 7 10-11 Willie Mullins Patrick Mullins
2022 Stattler 343-11 7 2-1 Willie Mullins Patrick Mullins
2021 Galvin 2-1111 7 7-2 I R Ferguson Jack Kennedy
2020 Ravenhill 2152-F 10 12-1 Gordon Elliott Jamie Codd
2019 Le Brueil 12324 7 14-1 Ben Pauling Jamie Codd
2018 Rathvinden 112BU 10 9/2 Willie Mullins Patrick Mullins
2017 Tiger Roll 22133 7 16/1 Gordon Elliott Lisa O’Neill
2016 Minella Rocco 1-3P62 6 8/1 Jonjo O’Neill Derek O’Connor
2015 Cause Of Causes 220-75 7 8-1 Gordon Elliott Jamie Codd
2014 Midnight Prayer 61U21 9 8-1 Alan King Joshua Newman

NATIONAL HUNT CHASE KEY TRENDS AND STATS

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Key trends

  • Adjusted RPR of at least 154, 10/10
  • Top-two finish in a chase over at least 3m, 9/10
  • Hurdles RPR of at least 134, 9/10  
  • Rated within 9lb of RPR top-rated, 9/10  
  • Ran at least four times over fences, 9/10
  • Top-three finish on last completed start, 8/10
  • Aged six to eight, 7/10
  • Had won over at least 3m (hurdles or chases), 7/10

Other factors

  • The last two winners to have had less than four chase runs were both trained by Willie Mullins (Back In Focus in 2013 and Stattler in 2022).z

Check out all of our latest Cheltenham Free Bets ahead of placing your bets on the 2024 National Hunt Chase

WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - NATIONAL HUNT CHASE 2023

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GAILLARD DU MESNIL had seemed the likely winner of this for the best part of 12 months, having finished third in last season’s Brown Advisory as a maiden. Placed in an Irish National subsequently, and a Grade 1 winner this season, he made the odd uncharacteristic mistake and, like the rest, looked to have been caught out when Mahler Mission bounded clear racing down the hill. However, when that one departed it left Chemical Energy idling in front and he was able to swoop past approaching the line.