The 3 mile Grade 2 Worcester Novices Chase run at the Newbury Hennessy meeting over 3 miles should be a pointer to the RSA Chase at the Cheletenham Festival but no horse has doubled up in the last decade.
Grands Crus was a rare winning favourite of this race last year and went on to win the Feltham Novices Chase at Kempton but was outbattled by Bob’s Worth and First Lieutenant at Cheltenham. Michel Le Bon – one of the leading fancies for the 2012 Hennessy Gold Cup won this in 2009.
Worchester Novices Chase 2012 Result
Trainer Kim Bailey was fully of praise for the 2012 winner, Harry Topper, describing the five ytear ols as his best horse since ( Gold Cup Winner) Master Oats. Punters should note that the horse may not be targeted at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.
| Pos | Dist | Horse | Trainer | Age | Weight | Jockey | SP |
| 1st | 5 Harry Topper | K C Bailey | 5 | 11-6 | T J Murphy | 3-1 | |
| In touch, not fluent in places, hampered 4 out, headway after 2 out, stayed on strongly to lead close home | |||||||
| 2nd | 1½ | 1 Benefficient (IRE) | A J Martin | 6 | 11-9 | A P McCoy | 8-1 |
| Prominent, led 6th, headed 11th, led again approaching 5 out, strongly challenged 3 out, headed close home, no extra | |||||||
| 3rd | 2 | 3 Highland Lodge (IRE) | Miss E C Lavelle | 6 | 11-9 | D Elsworth | 10-3 |
| Led until 6th, led again 11th, headed approaching 5 out, rallied 2 out, soon one pace | |||||||
| 4th | ¾ | 4 Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) | Miss V Williams | 5 | 11-9 | Aidan Coleman | 15-8f |
| Held up in touch, chased leaders 5 out, ridden to challenge 3 out, kept on under pressure | |||||||
| 5th | 43 | 6 Makethe Mostofnow (IRE) | Evan Williams | 7 | 11-6 | Paul Moloney | 20-1 |
| Held up in rear but in touch, struggling 5 out, hampered next, soon weakened | |||||||
| F | 2 Hadrian’s Approach (IRE) | N J Henderson | 5 | 11-9 | B J Geraghty | 8-1 | |
| Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, challenging in 3rd when fell 4 out |
Worcester Novices Chase Stats
- Favourites have a horrible record. Just one has won in the last decade.
- 4 of the last 5 favourites failed to complete.
- Tony McCoy has ridden 3 of the last 8 winners
- Paul Nicholls has trained 3 of the last 8 winners
- 9 of the last 10 winners have been aged between 6 and 8.
Worcester Novices Chase Winners 2002-2011
| Year | Horse | Age | Jockey | Trainer | WT | SP | FOF |
| 2011 | Grands Crus | 6 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe | 11-9 | 2-7 | 1 |
| 2010 | Aiteen Thirtythree | 6 | Noel Fehily | Paul Nicholls | 11-2 | 13-2 | F |
| 2009 | Michel Le Bon | 6 | Tony McCoy | Paul Nicholls | 11-2 | 6-4 | UR |
| 2008 | Gone to Lunch | 8 | Tony McCoy | Jeremy Scott | 11-6 | 5-2 | F |
| 2007 | Joe Lively | 8 | Joe Tizzard | Colin Tizzard | 11-9 | 13-2 | F |
| 2006 | Boychuk | 5 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs | 11-5 | 7-2 | 2 |
| 2005 | Darkness | 6 | Barry Fenton | Charles Egerton | 11-2 | 14-1 | 2 |
| 2004 | Cornish Rebel | 7 | Tony McCoy | Paul Nicholls | 11-2 | 5-1 | F |
| 2003 | Ballycassidy | 7 | Richard Johnson | Peter Bowen | 11-9 | 2-1 | 2 |
| 2002 | Lucky Bay | 6 | Jim Culloty | Henrietta Knight | 11-2 | 14-1 | 3 |
RSA Chase Odds
