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14:10 Cheltenham

Wednesday 15 March 2017

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

RSA Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:12 | Winning time: 6m 8.7s

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Selected odds by:

Acapella Bourgeois²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R Loughran| T: M S Sandra Hughes| OR: 143

5/1

Has shown some decent form over hurdles and steadily improved since being sent over fences, winning his last two races both at Navan the latest over 3m. Fell at the first on his chasing debut but appears to have little problem with his jumping now. He was without his usual headgear (hood) when winning his first chase over 2m4f making the running. Again without the headgear he stepped up on that performance when allowed a very soft lead to go with his usual positive ride to run out a 32L winner on his latest start. Very much had the run of the race on that occasion but has every right to come here although it will be surprising if he gets as much rope this time around.

Form: F34116

Alpha Des Obeaux⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Cooper| T: M F Morris| OR: 147

6/1

No stranger to the Festival, he recorded one of his best performances last year when taking the runner-up slot in the Stayers' Hurdle behind Thistlecrack. His form so far over fences has been a little patchy and he finished last when odds-on for his debut over the larger obstacles. He did justify favouritism to win his next two starts, both over shorter than 3m. Was expected to improve for the step-up to 3m in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas but was pulled-up after suffering a bleed. Given a break after that, his hurdles form at the track means he needs respecting and his trainer has been in good form of late.

Form: 113P48

Aurillac⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathan Moore| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 137

100/1

Looks talented in the right grade but is a very hard ride and often runs in snatches and that could see him outpaced here at various stages. Had some fair form in his first four starts over fences and was placed in three handicaps but disappointed last time out at Hereford returned to novice company (pulled-up). Looks to have a tough task here.

Form: 103-232

Bellshill³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149

5/1

Has seen action at the last two Festivals, finishing unplaced in both the Champion Bumper and the Supreme. Just the three starts over fences and has yet to tackle 3m over the bigger obstacles although he has won over hurdles at this trip. Won his first two chasing starts in quite taking fashion, the second of them a small field Grade 2 at Limerick on Boxing Day. He was again made favourite to land the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown and given a fair bit to do ridden from off what looked to be a fairly steady gallop when failing to pick up. There's no doubt that he deserves his place in the field but he did jump poorly and fell in a recent schooling session and that will be in the minds of any potential supporters.

Form: 1302-11

Heron Heights^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: P T Enright| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 140

40/1

Had multiple entries at the Festival and this is the one chosen by connections for this useful chaser who is 4/7 over fences although this will be his toughest test yet. The last of his quartet of victories was the most impressive and more importantly came over C&D with his jumping impressing once again. He's only been seen once since in a 2m handicap at Naas (trip far too short) and he certainly wasn't given a hard race on that occasion. Would probably have been better off in one of the handicaps but his sound jumping and course experience give him an outside chance here.

Form: 19116P

Marinero¹²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: D J Mullins| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 142

25/1

Hardly lacks experience over fences having run nine times in total over the larger obstacles although he has only managed to gain one win in this discipline so far. That victory came in a small novice event at Downpatrick in September (jumped well) and he's not been seen since being beaten easily by Thistlecrack here in November, sticking well to his task but lacking the class of the winner. Will be one of the outsiders here and has work to do on form with several of the principals.

Form: 2122U4

Might Bite³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 154

7/2

Made his debut over fences at Cheltenham in 2015 but didn't jump that well and returned to hurdles after just one outing. Has rekindled his chasing career this season and looked more the finished article this time around. Hacked up on his second start of the season at Doncaster, a track that appears to suit him well. Looked sure to record a stunning victory at Kempton Park over Christmas when taking a crashing fall at the last in the Grade 1 Kauto Star (well clear at the time). Given a break after that mishap, he got his preparation for this back on track with an easy win over two rivals at Doncaster in February. Has looked as though flat tracks suit him well so there is a slight question mark over him here on this undulating terrain.

Form: 1/517-21

O O Seven⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Henderson| OR: 152

14/1

Has shown very little at two previous Festivals but he already looks to be a better chaser than hurdler, winning by 10L on his debut although that race was weakened by the favourite pulling up early in the contest. He failed to follow up that debut success when beaten at odds-on next time out at Doncaster although that did turn out to be a bit of a muddling race in a small field with very little pace. He got back on track on his last start when conceding weight all round to win by 1/2L at Huntingdon over 2m4f, jumping soundly and showing a good attitude. Handicaps at the Festival were considered after that run but he deserves to take his chance here.

Form: 218-213

Our Kaempfer^t⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 148

20/1

Formerly a fairly smart hurdler it's taken him time to get the hang of things over fences, finally scoring on his fifth start in impressive fashion at Kempton Park when taking a handicap off a mark of 138. He was suited by the demands of that race and travelled well, winning easily in the end and it's not surprising that connections take the opportunity to step him up in grade here in a race that should be run to suit.

Form: B5-223U

Royal Vacation^b,t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 152

12/1

Will be one of the more experienced in the field with his previous Festival encounter coming in the 2014 Champion Bumper. His chase form reads 221311 and he's been very consistent over the larger obstacles although his biggest success in the Kauto Star was gifted to him by the fall of Might Bite at the last when he looked well held in second. He progressed again though to win a novices' handicap chase on Trials Day here by 8L going with real zest and jumping with fluency. May well have to improve again to take a hand in the finish but he deserves his chance at this level.

Form: 21311P

Whisper⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: N J Henderson| OR: 151

9/2

Connections had the choice between this race and the JLT over shorter and it looks as though they are going to take this option as he is after all a Grade 1 winning hurdler twice over 3m. Rather like his stablemate (Might Bite) he returned to hurdles after his first chasing effort but connections decided that another try at chasing was in order this season and he's won both his starts. He really looks to have got to grips with chasing now having won twice around here over 2m4f jumping soundly on each occasion and his stamina and course experience will stand him in good stead on his toughest test over fences to date.

Form: 51/5P8-1

Briery Belle⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 144

25/1

The only mare in the field, she comes here after having made just three chase starts and she was found wanting when stepped up into Graded company last time out here over 2m4f. Prior to that she had won her first two chases as a novice at Carlisle and a Listed Mare's event at Warwick where she beat the useful Desert Queen by 6L. She was some 20L behind Whisper though on her last outing and that piece off form alone gives her plenty to do here.

Form: 3121-11

Forecasts

Might Bite (7/2), Whisper (9/2), Bellshill (5/1), Acapella Bourgeois (5/1), Alpha Des Obeaux (6/1), Royal Vacation (12/1), O O Seven (14/1), Our Kaempfer (20/1), Marinero (25/1), Briery Belle (25/1), Heron Heights (40/1), Aurillac (100/1)

The Henderson team is a strong one here comprising a quarter of the field headed by likely race favourite Might Bite. There’s no doubt that he possesses the best form in the race but there is a slight question mark about his ability to act on an undulating track. He has won over hurdles here but he did disappoint on his chasing debut around this circuit and some doubts remain. It may well be that his stablemate Whisper can improve again over this longer trip and put his experience of winning over the fences here to good use. He’s clearly now coming to himself over fences and is a Grade 1-winning hurdler over 3m. Five Irish runners go to post and the most fancied will be the duo at the top of the card Acapella Bourgeois and ALPHA DES OBEAUX. The former was a runaway winner last time out when granted a very easy lead and he’ll find tactics like that harder to repeat here so it’s very much the latter who is fancied to take this prize back to Ireland. His experience of the Festival will stand him in good stead off a break and with his stable back in form he looks a leading contender. Willie Mullins has trained the winner of this race three times this century and runs Bellshill although he needs to bounce back to his best after a below par run last time out. Royal Vacation and O O Seven add some strength in depth to the home team and deserve their place in the line-up.