RSA Insurance Novices` Chase Preview - Cheltenham Festival

Published on: 11/03/2020

RSA Insurance Novices` Chase Preview - Cheltenham Festival

March 11, 2020 13:30pm - Cheltenham

Distance: 3m 80y

Grade: (Grade 1) (Class 1) (5yo+)

Runners: 10

Winner: £98,473

Going: Soft

The RSA Insurance Novices` Chase is the second race on Day Two of the Festival and is the premier event of the season for novice chasers. At just over three miles it has proved a good test for future Gold Cup winners including Denman, Bobs Worth and Lord Windermere. Will this years winner go on to win the big prize?

Minella Indo won last year`s Albert Bartlett over this distance and is a strong stayer with plenty of support in the betting market who looks the one to beat. The progressing Copperhead might have something to say about that as he looks to have all the jumping skills required for this race. Also a strong stayer, he has taken well to fences and destroyed the field at Ascot in soft conditions over this distance last month.

Champ was beaten by City Island in the Ballymore last year but went on to enjoy Grade One success at Aintree. He won his first two chases at Newbury before a big error cost him in 2m 4f Dipper here at Cheltenham. If he has recovered from that, he stands a chance.

RSA Insurance Novices` Chase Winners - past six years:

2014: O`Faolain`s Boy (7) - Barry Geraghty (Rebecca Curtis)

2015: Don Poli (6) - Bryan Cooper (Willie Mullins)

2016: Blaklion (7) - Ryan Hatch (Nigel Twiston-Davies)

2017: Might Bite (8) - Nico de Boinville (Nicky Henderson)

2018: Presenting Percy (7) - D N Russell (P G Kelly)

2019: Topofthegame (7) - P F Nicholls (H Cobden)

Latest Betting odds:

Minella Indo (3/1), Allaho (7/2), Champ (7/2), Copperhead (5/1), Easy Game (10/1), Battleoverdoyen (12/1), Slate House (14/1), Pym (25/1), Aye Right (66/1), Castlebawn West (66/1)

By Neil Morris

Published on: 11/03/2020

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (11/03/2020 10:46:51) but are subject to change.