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14:10 Cheltenham

Wednesday 13 March 2019

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

RSA Insurance Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 6m 17.26s

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Selected odds by:

Count Meribel⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: M D Grant| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 147| C

66/1

Took well to fences winning his first two starts over the larger obstacles (handicap and a novice). Found life far tougher in this sphere when tacking Grade 2 company at Ascot before Christmas; yet to try this trip over fences and faces a stiff task.

Form: 65P-114

Delta Work^h,t⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 155| CD

15/8

Winner at the Festival last year (Pertemps Hurdle) he's progressed rapidly over fences and remains unbeaten over fences; landed two Grade 1's so far. Beat Mortal 8L when last seen at Leopardstown and has the potential for better; worthy favourite.

Form: 312-111

Drovers Lane⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 150| C| DWS

20/1

Useful hurdler who has already bettered that form over fences taking three of his four starts; winning over 2m4f here in December. Strong travelling sort who jumps well and looks capable of further progress; first run since a breathing op.

Form: 121711

Mister Malarky²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 148| D

20/1

Very likeable sort who has made progress in each of his four chasing starts and proved himself over this trip. Looked more of National Hunt Chase type when beating Now McGinty in a Grade 2 at Ascot last time; unexposed as a stayer, may need further.

Form: 20-1311

Mortal^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 147

20/1

Failed to win over hurdles but stepped up to make a winning debut over fences (jumped soundly). Faced stiffer tests since his debut in two Grade 1 chases shaping better than the result last time; still has ground to make up with Delta Work though.

Form: 226-126

Now Mcginty^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: S Edmunds| OR: 145| D

33/1

Took a while to get off the mark over fences (beaten by The Worlds End on debut; has found his jumping improving with experience. Scored at Chepstow on penultimate start but work to do with Mister Malarky from last time out; type for stiffer tests.

Form: 2-2U212

On The Blind Side^p1⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: N J Henderson| OR: 149| BF| C| D

14/1

Stable second string who wears cheekpieces for the first-time having left his disappointing course debut well behind when scoring at Kempton last time over 3m. Deserves his chance in this company and may progress further as he was a smart hurdler.

Form: 1116-41

Santini⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 153| BF| C| D

3/1

Leading candidate for this for ages (Albert Bartlett third last year); Grade 1 winning hurdler. Did everything right when making a winning chase debut before finishing a very creditable third last time; subject of a late injury scare, appears fine.

Form: 1131-13

The Worlds End^p1⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 155| C| D

16/1

Didn't quite hit the heights he should over hurdles but he's won two of his four chases including on his debut. Has disappointed a couple of times though (once around Cheltenham); work to do with a couple of these on his Christmas Kempton run.

Form: 74-1316

Topofthegame^t⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 155| D

4/1

Narrowly beaten in last year's Coral Cup; quickly taken to fences replicating that high class form with two runner-up slots. Still looked rather raw in a Kempton Grade 1 last time (outbattled by a game mare); Santini behind though, progress likely.

Form: F412-22

Top Ville Ben^h²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 147| BF| D

33/1

Front-runner whose positive tactics paid off in his first two chasing starts; both victories by decisive margins. Strong in the betting for his toughest test yet (Ascot Grade 2) he failed to repeat similar tactics (faced pace pressure); bit to prove.

Form: F8F-115

Drinks Interval^t⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: R Johnson| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 145| D

100/1

Has plenty of chasing experience with three novice wins to her name last year but appears to have rather lost her way towards the end of 2018. Disappointing when last seen at Doncaster in a Listed Mares' event; faces a tough task here.

Form: 211F23

Forecasts

Delta Work (15/8), Santini (3/1), Topofthegame (4/1), On The Blind Side (14/1), The Worlds End (16/1), Mister Malarky (20/1), Mortal (20/1), Drovers Lane (20/1), Now Mcginty (33/1), Top Ville Ben (33/1), Count Meribel (66/1), Drinks Interval (100/1)

Limited Irish representation this year; they had half the field last year and landed a 1-2 but they do at least have a good chance of landing the winner again via DELTA WORK who hasn’t put a foot wrong over fences having already placed a Festival win on his jumping CV. The biggest threats are likely to come from two of the British contenders with the second and third from the Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton Topofthegame and Santani meeting again. The latter has had a recent injury scare but there are no such problems for the Nicholls' yard with their charge although he’s yet to win over fences. Mister Malarky is a lively outsider who could trouble the principals.