National Hunt Novices’ Chase 2021

National Hunt Novices’ Chase – Day One, Tuesday, 16 March
The G2 National Hunt Novices’ Chase takes place over three miles and six furlongs on Tuesday, 16 March.
There are 59 entries this year, including 20 from Ireland. Irish trainer Gordon Elliott has landed the contest four times, including with the legendary dual Randox Grand National hero Tiger Roll in 2017 and last year with Ravenhill. He has the most entries of any trainer this year, seven, which are headed by Galvin.

Owned by Ronnie Bartlett, the seven-year-old Galvin is a second season novice and ended the 2019/20 campaign by finishing runner-up to Imperial Aura in the Listed Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase at The Festival™. He is undefeated in four starts this season and relished the step up in distance when impressively winning a novices’ chase over an extended three miles at Cheltenham in October ( at 1 min 10 secs in video above) on his most recent appearance.
A fascinating entry is Royale Pagaille (Venetia Williams), who also holds entries in the Festival Novices’ Chase as well as the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup. Another experienced novice, he could not have been more impressive in winning both chase starts this season at Haydock Park and Kempton Park.
The National Hunt Novices’ Chase is one of the few races at The Festival™ to have eluded Nicky Henderson but the reigning champion trainer has a live contender this year in Dickie Diver, owned by J P McManus and fourth in the 2019 G1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. He shaped well when second on his chasing debut at Newbury last month.
Jamie Snowden has two entries in this contest in the shape of Kiltealy Briggs, who was third at Ascot behind Allart in G2 company last time out, and Thomas Macdonagh, who got off the mark over fences at Catterick earlier this month.
The trainer continued: “Cheltenham plans are up in the air for Kiltealy Briggs at the moment.
“We are not really leaning anywhere with him, but he is in good form and the plan was to run him in the Altcar Novices’ Chase at Haydock on Saturday but I think that meeting could succumb to the weather. That race was probably going to tell us where we stand with him, so we will see what happens there first.
“The National Hunt Chase is possible for Thomas Macdonagh. He won well at Catterick last time out and he could also be one for a handicap at Cheltenham.”
NATIONAL HUNT NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 2) Acey Milan (IRE) 7 11 6 Owners For Owners: Acey Milan Anthony Honeyball Aforementioned (FR) 8 11 6 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE Born By The Sea (IRE) 7 11 6 Natalie Gilligan Paul John Gilligan IRE Braeside (IRE) 7 11 6 KTDA Racing Gordon Elliott IRE Darlac (FR) 8 11 6 Mrs G. C. Pritchard Colin Tizzard Eden du Houx (FR) 7 11 6 Prof. Caroline Tisdall David Pipe Escaria Ten (FR) 7 11 6 McNeill Family Gordon Elliott IRE Eurobot (GB) 7 11 6 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE Eva’s Oskar (IRE) 7 11 6 Sally & Richard Prince Tim Vaughan Forza Milan (IRE) 9 11 6 TSKOC Syndicate James A. Nash IRE Full Back (FR) 6 11 6 Mr Ashley Head Gary Moore Galvin (IRE) 7 11 6 Mr R. A. Bartlett Gordon Elliott IRE Golan Fortune (IRE) 9 11 6 P Middleton, M Lowther Phil Middleton Happygolucky (IRE) 7 11 6 Lady Dulverton Kim Bailey If The Cap Fits (IRE) 9 11 6 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Harry Fry Latest Exhibition (IRE) 8 11 6 Toberona Partnership Paul Nolan IRE Lithic (IRE) 10 11 6 The Stone Composers Jonjo O’Neill Longhouse Poet (IRE) 7 11 6 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Martin Brassil IRE Macgiloney (IRE) 8 11 6 M. Moloney Denis G. Hogan IRE Milanford (IRE) 7 11 6 Sherborne Utilities Ltd Nick Mitchell Nestor Park (FR) 8 11 6 Mrs S. P. Davis Ben Pauling Next Destination (IRE) 9 11 6 Mr Malcolm C. Denmark Paul Nicholls Ofalltheginjoints (IRE) 7 11 6 The Reserve Tankers Colin Tizzard Port of Mars (IRE) 7 11 6 Noel and Valerie Moran Olly Murphy Prime Venture (IRE) 10 11 6 Mrs Janet Davies Evan Williams Remastered (GB) 8 11 6 Brocade Racing David Pipe Royale Pagaille (FR) 7 11 6 Mrs S. Ricci Venetia Williams Run Wild Fred (IRE) 7 11 6 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE Salty Boy (IRE) 8 11 6 Premier Plastering (UK) Limited David Bridgwater Secret Reprieve (IRE) 7 11 6 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams Shanty Alley (GB) 7 11 6 Jerry Wright Adam Lucock Patricia Murray Ben Case Sizing At Midnight (IRE) 9 11 6 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Colin Tizzard Soldier of Love (GB) 8 11 6 Mr Malcolm C. Denmark Paul Nicholls St Barts (IRE) 7 11 6 Mr & Mrs R. Kelvin-Hughes Philip Hobbs The Big Dog (IRE) 8 11 6 Damien J. Kelly/Colin Kelly Peter Fahey IRE The Mighty Don (IRE) 9 11 6 Golden Rose Partnership Nick Gifford Thomas Macdonagh (GB) 8 11 6 Sperling, Coomes, Davies, Hague, Collins Jamie Snowden Kitty’s Light (GB) 5 11 5 R J Bedford & Partners Christian Williams Snow Leopardess (GB) 9 10 13 Mr A. Fox-Pitt Charlie Longsdon Ask Me Early (IRE) 7 11 6 The Dare Family Harry Fry Asterion Forlonge (FR) 7 11 6 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE Coko Beach (FR) 6 11 6 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE Demachine (IRE) 7 11 6 West Coast Haulage Limited Kerry Lee Dickie Diver (IRE) 8 11 6 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Dominateur (FR) 8 11 6 Kate & Andrew Brooks Oliver Sherwood Eklat de Rire (FR) 7 11 6 Mr P. Davies Henry de Bromhead IRE Eleazar des Neiges (FR) 7 11 6 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE Foxy Jacks (IRE) 7 11 6 Mr D. F. Desmond M. F. Morris IRE Hurricane Harvey (GB) 7 11 6 Walid Marzouk & Richard Rowland Fergal O’Brien Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) 7 11 6 McNeill Family Jamie Snowden Legends Gold (IRE) 7 11 6 Lockett,Hyde,Mountford,Bishop&Outhart Rebecca Curtis Lord Royal (FR) 6 11 6 Paul Connell/Alan McGonnell W. P. Mullins IRE Nadaitak (GB) 7 11 6 The Megsons Ben Pauling Notice To Close (GB) 7 11 6 Mrs S. Neville Seamus Neville IRE One For The Team (GB) 7 11 6 Forty Winks Syndicate 2 & Partner Nick Williams Pencilfulloflead (IRE) 7 11 6 Robcour Gordon Elliott IRE Some Detail (IRE) 7 11 6 Milltown Racing Nigel Hawke The Ferry Master (IRE) 8 11 6 The Potassium Partnership Sandy Thomson The Wolf (FR) 7 11 6 McNeill Family and Prodec Networks Ltd Olly Murphy 
59 entries20 Irish-trained