2016 Novices Handicap Chase

[Morning Glory]

When I saw the betting that one immediately appealed to me but he couldn't win last year off 134 and this more than any of the handicaps surely goes to an unexposed progressive type, not a horse with 10 chase starts to his name ?

Age and runs a negative. Festival form - 2nd to Don Poli and Irish Cavalier a positive.

This race is usually won by best horse in it ( ignore the weights) and one that will be running in graded races after it. Does Thomas Crapper fit the bill ?

[mayo]

Out Sam
A horse I’m excited about. He’s in the RSA and JLT but he’ll also be in three of the handicaps. I think he’d be competitive in the RSA, but he’s got a mark of 139 after his Newbury win so I’d be silly not to look at handicaps. I don’t think we’ve seen anything yet – better ground will see him at his best.

Aloomomo
He’ll probably be in same handicap chases as Out Sam and then we’ll see how the ground goes. He’s been very progressive, winning his last three chases, and then did as well as we expected over hurdles at Ascot on Saturday. He hadn’t run since the Hennessy meeting so we wanted to knock the cobwebs away and I was happy with him. I think there’s plenty left – he’s still relatively young.

[Lester]

The Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase
Listed, £65,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, 5.30pm, Tuesday, March 15, two miles and four and a half furlongs (2m 4f 78yds). For novice five-year-olds and upwards rated 0-140. Penalties: after February 28, a winner of a chase 5lb. No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 10lb. Entries closed February 23 (68 entries), entries released February 25, weights revealed March 2. Six-day confirmation stage March 9, final declaration stage 10.00am, March 14. Maximum field of 20.

Horse Age Owner Trainer
ALL TOGETHER (FR) 5 Mrs Z Wentworth Johnny Farrelly
ALOOMOMO (FR) 6 The Large G & T Partnership Warren Greatrex
ALTIEPIX (FR) 6 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
AMORE ALATO 7 Mrs Sarah Faulks Johnny Farrelly
ASTIGOS (FR) 9 A Brooks Venetia Williams
BALLYALTON (IRE) 9 John Westwood Ian Williams
BALLYBOLLEY (IRE) 7 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies
BALLYKAN 6 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies
BISHOPSLOUGH (IRE) 8 Barry Connell Alan Fleming IRE
BLAIR PERRONE (IRE) 7 John Breslin Tony Martin IRE
BODEGA 8 Paul Williams Ian Williams
BOUVREUIL (FR) 5 Chris Giles & Potensis Bloodstock Ltd Paul Nicholls
BRIDGETS PET (IRE) 9 Barry Connell Alan Fleming IRE
BUCKHORN TIMOTHY 7 The Buckhorn Racing Team Colin Tizzard
CAPTAIN VON TRAPPE (IRE) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
CENTRAL FLAME 8 Messrs F T Walton James Walton
DEEP TROUBLE (IRE) 9 Lady Jane Grosvenor Ben Case
DOMESDAY BOOK (USA) 6 Mrs S J Brookhouse Henry de Bromhead IRE
DOUBLE SHUFFLE (IRE) 6 Crossed Fingers Partnership Tom George
EMPRESARIO (IRE) 7 B J Hooper Matthew J Smith IRE
FIVE IN A ROW (IRE) 8 P J Martin Brian Ellison
FOURTH ACT (IRE) 7 Wendy & Malcolm Hezel Colin Tizzard
FREE EXPRESSION (IRE) 7 J P McManus Gordon Elliott IRE
FULL SHIFT (FR) 7 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
GERMANY CALLING (IRE) 7 Tyrone Hanlon Charlie Longsdon
GOLDEN DOYEN (GER) 5 Merry Old Souls Philip Hobbs
HEPIJEU (FR) 5 Countrywide Vehicle Rentals Taxi Hire Charlie Longsdon
IMAGINE THE CHAT 7 J P McManus Rebecca Curtis
JAVERT (IRE) 7 Axom LII Emma Lavelle
JAYO TIME (IRE) 7 S R Holt & Mrs B M Ayres Kerry Lee
JOHNNY OG 7 THanlon MBoothright SHanlon NMartin Martin Keighley
KALANE (IRE) 7 Paul Murphy Charlie Longsdon
KATACHENKO (IRE) 7 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain
KATGARY (FR) 6 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls
KILLALA QUAY 9 Richard & Mrs Susan Perkins Charlie Longsdon
KILLER CROW (IRE) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
KILRONAN HIGH (IRE) 7 Mrs J K Powell Nigel Twiston-Davies
LORD SCOUNDREL (IRE) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
MCKINLEY 6 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE
MINELLA PRESENT (IRE) 7 Mrs Jane Gerard-Pearse Neil Mulholland
MONKSLAND (IRE) 9 Mrs Patricia Hunt Noel Meade IRE
MOUNT GUNNERY 8 Clipper Logistics Group Ltd Pat Fahy IRE
MYSTIFIABLE 8 Graham and Alison Jelley Fergal O'Brien
NICKNAME EXIT (FR) 6 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE) 7 Chris Jones Gordon Elliott IRE
ON TOUR (IRE) 8 T Hywel Jones Evan Williams
ORBASA (FR) 5 Potensis Bloodstock Limited Paul Nicholls
OUT SAM 7 Swanee River Partnership Warren Greatrex
PAIROFBROWNEYES (IRE) 7 Fibbage Syndicate Barry Murphy IRE
PORT MELON (IRE) 8 Graham Roach Paul Nicholls
PORTWAY FLYER (IRE) 8 Patrick Kelly Ian Williams
PRESSURIZE (IRE) 10 Mrs Sarah Williams Venetia Williams
RACING PULSE (IRE) 7 Carl Hinchy Rebecca Curtis
RELENTLESS DREAMER (IRE) 7 Nigel Morris Rebecca Curtis
REZORBI (FR) 5 Sean O'Driscoll and Michael O'Flynn Jonjo O'Neill
SAMBREMONT (FR) 6 Shanakiel Racing Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
SPECIAL CATCH (IRE) 9 Mike Browne & William McKeown Keith Reveley
THE SOCIETY MAN (IRE) 9 Alan Mann Michael Chapman
THOMAS BROWN 7 The Corse Lawners Harry Fry

THOMAS CRAPPER 9 Apisukcom Robin Dickin
TWELVE ROSES 8 Jones Broughtons Wilson Weaver Kim Bailey
UNIC DE BERSY (FR) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
VIKEKHAL (FR) 7 N J Roach Gary Moore
WALDORF SALAD 8 Alan Parker Venetia Williams
WESTERNERS SON (IRE) 8 Michael J Slattery/Karl Slattery Dermot McLoughlin IRE
WILLOW'S SAVIOUR 9 Triple F Partnership Dan Skelton
WINGS ATTRACT (IRE) 7 The Rann Family Chris Bealby
WRATH OF TITANS (IRE) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Sandra Hughes IRE
68 entries
20 Irish-trained

[mayo]

Killer Crow

He'll go for the novice handicap on the first day. He was second in a Leopardstown chase last time behind Empire Of Dirt and I think he's a mark of 136 in England, with the ceiling for the race 140. It will be a tight, compressed handicap. He should have a good each-way chance when you look at the horses that have been finishing around him. He travels, this looks his ideal trip and I think the race is made for him.

[Old Vic]

The Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase
Listed, £65,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, 5.30pm, Tuesday, March 15, two miles and four and a half furlongs (2m 4f 78yds). For novice five-year-olds and upwards rated 0-140. Penalties: after February 28, a winner of a chase 5lb. No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 10lb. Entries closed February 23 (68 entries), entries released February 25, weights revealed March 2. Six-day confirmation stage March 9, final declaration stage 10.00am, March
14. Maximum field of 20.

Horse Age Wgt Owner Trainer
BALLYALTON (IRE) 9 11-10 John Westwood Ian Williams
ALOOMOMO (FR) 6 11-10 The Large G & T Partnership Warren Greatrex
BRIDGETS PET (IRE) 9 11-10 Barry Connell Alan Fleming IRE
GERMANY CALLING (IRE) 7 11-10 Tyrone Hanlon Charlie Longsdon
THOMAS BROWN 7 11-10 The Corse Lawners Harry Fry
DOMESDAY BOOK (USA) 6 11-09 Mrs S J Brookhouse Henry de Bromhead IRE
AMORE ALATO 7 11-09 Mrs Sarah Faulks Johnny Farrelly
NICKNAME EXIT (FR) 6 11-09 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
MCKINLEY 6 11-09 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE
SAMBREMONT (FR) 6 11-09 Shanakiel Racing Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
JAVERT (IRE) 7 11-09 Axom LII Emma Lavelle
OUT SAM 7 11-09 Swanee River Partnership Warren Greatrex
KILLALA QUAY 9 11-09 Richard & Mrs Susan Perkins Charlie Longsdon
RACING PULSE (IRE) 7 11-09 Carl Hinchy Rebecca Curtis
ON TOUR (IRE) 8 11-08 T Hywel Jones Evan Williams
WILLOW'S SAVIOUR 9 11-08 Triple F Partnership Dan Skelton
UNIC DE BERSY (FR) 8 11-08 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
TWELVE ROSES 8 11-08 Jones Broughtons Wilson Weaver Kim Bailey
DOUBLE SHUFFLE (IRE) 6 11-08 Crossed Fingers Partnership Tom George
BOUVREUIL (FR) 5 11-08 Chris Giles & Potensis Bloodstock Ltd Paul Nicholls
BISHOPSLOUGH (IRE) 8 11-08 Barry Connell Alan Fleming IRE
JAYO TIME (IRE) 7 11-07 S R Holt & Mrs B M Ayres Kerry Lee
CENTRAL FLAME 8 11-07 Messrs F T Walton James Walton
REZORBI (FR) 5 11-07 Sean O'Driscoll and Michael O'Flynn Jonjo O'Neill
KATGARY (FR) 6 11-07 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls
FOURTH ACT (IRE) 7 11-07 Wendy & Malcolm Hezel Colin Tizzard
FIVE IN A ROW (IRE) 8 11-06 P J Martin Brian Ellison
KILLER CROW (IRE) 7 11-06 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
CAPTAIN VON TRAPPE (IRE) 7 11-06 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
BALLYKAN 6 11-05 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies
GOLDEN DOYEN (GER) 5 11-05 Merry Old Souls Philip Hobbs
THOMAS CRAPPER 9 11-05 Apisukcom Robin Dickin
BUCKHORN TIMOTHY 7 11-05 The Buckhorn Racing Team Colin Tizzard
FULL SHIFT (FR) 7 11-05 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
KALANE (IRE) 7 11-05 Paul Murphy Charlie Longsdon
MINELLA PRESENT (IRE) 7 11-04 Jane Gerard-Pearse Neil Mulholland
KATACHENKO (IRE) 7 11-04 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain
ALL TOGETHER (FR) 5 11-03 Mrs Z Wentworth Johnny Farrelly
DEEP TROUBLE (IRE) 9 11-03 Lady Jane Grosvenor Ben Case
PAIROFBROWNEYES (IRE) 7 11-03 Fibbage Syndicate Barry Murphy
MOUNT GUNNERY 8 11-01 Clipper Logistics Group Ltd Pat Fahy IRE
WALDORF SALAD 8 11-01 Alan Parker Venetia Williams
ORBASA (FR) 5 11-01 Potensis Bloodstock Limited Paul Nicholls
WRATH OF TITANS (IRE) 7 11-00 Gigginstown House Stud Sandra Hughes IRE
SPECIAL CATCH (IRE) 9 11-00 Mike Browne & William McKeown Keith Reveley
EMPRESARIO (IRE) 7 10-12 B J Hooper Matthew J Smith IRE
PRESSURIZE (IRE) 10 10-12 Sarah Williams Venetia Williams
WESTERNERS SON (IRE) 8 10-12 Michael J Slattery/Karl Slattery Dermot McLoughlin IRE
HEPIJEU (FR) 5 10-11 Countrywide Vehicle Rentals Taxi Hire Charlie Longsdon
WINGS ATTRACT (IRE) 7 10-11 The Rann Family Chris Bealby
KILRONAN HIGH (IRE) 7 10-11 Mrs J K Powell Nigel Twiston-Davies
BALLYBOLLEY (IRE) 7 10-10 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies
ASTIGOS (FR) 9 10-09 A Brooks Venetia Williams
ALTIEPIX (FR) 6 10-09 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
VIKEKHAL (FR) 7 10-09 N J Roach Gary Moore
JOHNNY OG 7 10-08 T Hanlon M Boothright S Hanlon N Martin Martin Keighley
IMAGINE THE CHAT 7 10-08 J P McManus Rebecca Curtis

RELENTLESS DREAMER (IRE) 7 10-03 Nigel Morris Rebecca Curtis
PORTWAY FLYER (IRE) 8 9-13 Patrick Kelly Ian Williams
BODEGA 8 9-11 Paul Williams Ian Williams
THE SOCIETY MAN (IRE) 9 8-00 Alan Mann Michael Chapman

61 entries remain
15 Irish-trained
MYSTIFIABLE AND PORT MELON (IRE) ARE NOT QUALIFIED

BLAIR PERRONE (IRE), FREE EXPRESSION (IRE), LORD SCOUNDREL (IRE), MONKSLAND (IRE) AND NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE) HAVE BEEN EXPUNGED UNDER RULE (F) 80

[Old Vic]

[mayo]

MAX 20

1 2/U62F Ballyalton24 9 11-10 Ian Williams100 140 58 148
2 6-1113 Aloomomo24 6 11-10 Warren Greatrex 140 83 148
3 5U15P1 Bridgets Pet45 9 11-10 Alan Fleming 140 89 139
4 9-1214 Germany Calling129 7 11-10 Charlie Longsdon 140 124 149
5 6-121U Thomas Brown17 7 11-10 Harry Fry 140 105 151
6 62-313 Domesday Book51 6 11-9 Henry De Bromhead 139 109 138
7 42U24 Amore Alato24 7 11-9 Johnny Farrelly 139 102 155
8 8-5216 McKinley38 6 11-9 W P Mullins 139 107 142
9 F2211 Sambremont30 6 11-9 W P Mullins 139 120 137
10 55-1U1 Javert94 7 11-9 Emma Lavelle 139 126 150
11 F-6311 Out Sam31 7 11-9 Warren Greatrex 139 110 158
12 P-1441 Killala Quay17 9 11-9 Charlie Longsdon 139 125 156
13 6/751P Racing Pulse31 7 11-9 Rebecca Curtis 139 83 147
14 80-119 On Tour45 8 11-8 Evan Williams 138 120 151
15 11/141 Willow´s Saviour25 9 11-8 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 138 124 150
16 5/1PP2 Twelve Roses17 8 11-8 Kim Bailey 138 119 148
17 11-241 Double Shuffle90 6 11-8 Tom George 138 99 148
18 7-0515 Bouvreuil45 5 11-8 Paul Nicholls Sam Twiston-Davies 139 116 145

all in plus 2 of this 4 ( probably all)

19 161U22 Jayo Time26 7 11-7 Kerry Lee 137 141 149
20 30311F Rezorbi45 5 11-7 Jonjo O´Neill100 138 — 143
21 610-13 Katgary95 6 11-7 Paul Nicholls 137 95 151
22 31F231 Fourth Act24 7 11-7 Colin Tizzard 137 91 148


Missing out ?

23 5-1011 Five In A Row17 8 11-6 Brian Ellison67 Danny Cook 136 92 148
24 605122 Killer Crow58 7 11-6 Gordon Elliott B J Cooper 136 49 145


25 1114P4 Ballykan17 6 11-5 Nigel Twiston-Davies100 135 129 149
26 2-7308 Thomas Crapper74 9 11-5 Robin Dickin100 Charlie Poste 135 97 150
27 312F1 Buckhorn Timothy60 7 11-5 Colin Tizzard 135 107 146
28 8-781P Full Shift37 7 11-5 Nicky Henderson 135 128 148


unlikely to get in ?

29 2-3122 Minella Present123 7 11-4 Neil Mulholland 134 111 150
30 4-2122 Katachenko77 7 11-4 Donald McCain83 134 134 146
31 38-311 Pairofbrowneyes79 7 11-3 Barry T Murphy M P Fogarty 133 117 145
32 12-231 Mount Gunnery26 8 11-1 P A Fahy 131 92 134
33 4-1123 Waldorf Salad24 8 11-1 Venetia Williams 131 132 152
34 261431 Orbasa16 5 11-1 Paul Nicholls 132 108 150
35 1561P1 Johnny Og105x 7 10-13 Martin Keighley50 129 113 149
36 231F83 Empresario95F 7 10-12 Matthew J Smith 128 111 146
37 3-8311 Pressurize40 10 10-12 Venetia Williams 128 135 150
38 21312P Hepijeu138 5 10-11 Charlie Longsdon 128 120 143
39 14132 Wings Attract23 7 10-11 Chris Bealby 127 131 147
40 581FP3 Kilronan High19 7 10-11 Nigel Twiston-Davies100 127 131 147
41 37433 Ballybolley49 7 10-10 Nigel Twiston-Davies100 126 134 149
42 432715 Astigos10 9 10-9 Venetia Williams 125 128 156
43 25115P Vikekhal112 7 10-9 Gary Moore 125 104 149
44 1-81PP Imagine The Chat18 7 10-8 Rebecca Curtis 124 103 153
45 233F21 Bodega105x 8 10-2 Ian Williams100 118 139 154
46 93-7P Portway Flyer71 8 9-13 Ian Williams100 115 74 129
47 3357P4 The Society Man14 9 8-0 Michael Chapman 88

[mayo]

The race is becoming pointless - a novice chase for horses rated between 138 and 140

[Istabraq]

Ridiculous that a festival handicap should have a weight range of just 2lb, shows the changing face of handicaps and hiw they're compressing all the time....

[Istabraq]

The race is becoming pointless - a novice chase for horses rated between 138 and 140

It's div 2 of the JLT but for poorer horses....

[mayo]

Phil Smith picks the field. Remove the upper limit or scrap it altogether.

[Istabraq]

Haven't they just reduced the upper limit ?
looking at the decs it's hard to argue that changes have worked.
Imagine having a horse rated 137, 3lb inside the limit, and not qualifying....

[edcarvell]

Will be shame if Killer Crow misses out. I liked Elliot's tactics of entering it at Cheltenham / or another UK fixture earlier in the season to gauge what mark it would get from Phil Smith, once they saw the mark, it didn't run and has been protected since. Add in it being a Presenting, it had appeal.

[Faugheen_Machine]

Ballyalton, Killala Quay and Out Sam probably won't turn up in this. I think Killer Crow will sneak in....just!

[Faugheen_Machine]

Sambremont another who won't run.