National Hunt Chase

Will never again be a platform for slow old romantic boats at decent prices. Ah, Northern Bay in 1985, our first year there. ...'one Boraceva, there's only one Boraceva..'89, Mr Marcus Armytage jogging round on Christmas Gorse '94. JT coaxing Rith Dubh home '02, 'The Weld' in 2006. Simple, happy times.

Over the past 12 years has evolved to a safety-conscious 3 mile 6 furlong decent standard G2 long distance novice chase. Now a handicap. Over £75k to the winner in 2019 (Galvin only got £53k in 2021 but back up to £60k plus from 2022).

AGE - Minella Rocco 2016 and Tricky Trickster 2009 only 6 yr olds to win since Boraceva in ’89. Minella Rocco bt Native River, another six year old. Only four winners this century aged older than eight. Rith Dubh, Rathvinden and Ravenhill at 10 yr olds, Midnight Prayer, a 9 yr old in 2014. 83 six yr olds have tried since '89. None last year.

Apart from Kilbeg King (9 yrs) all runners in last three editions aged seven or eight.

10 yrs and over - Ravenhill and Rathvinden were 10 yrs, Ladbroke Trophy winner Sizing Tennessee was third also as a 10 yr old, Rith Dubh ‘02 and Flimsy Truth in ’97 were winners as 10 yr olds. In the last 18 renewals, 21 horses of this age group have run, only other placed Tofino Bay in 2013. He had won a G2 Nov Chase at Navan.

Since the 2010 changes when it became a level weights contest, Next Destination (2nd), Snow Leopardess (4th), Ravenhill, Clondaw Cian, Rathvinden, Sizing Tennessee, Perfect Gentleman, Midnight Prayer, Tofino Bay and Beshabar (2nd in 2011) only ones aged older than 8 yrs old to be in the top 6 finishers. That's 10 from 72 possibles but includes three of the last 11 winners. Beshabar previously won G3 Nov Hurdle. Twelve other qualifiers over the past decade failed to finish the race.

When he got off the 10 yr old Rathvinden after winning in 2018, Patrick Mullins said 'we were hopeful with him, he fitted the profile.' Certainly had me reaching immediately for my notes. More on the horse's chase experience later. Do love the way that trainers, jockeys and the media at Cheltenham will use the phrase 'fits the profile'. Yet few will rarely use the words 'trends' or 'stats.' Moving on.

PROFILE - Corbetts Cross, Ravenhill, Rathvinden, Cause of Causes, Chicago Grey, Butler’s Cabin '07 and Loving Around ’96 only winners in last 33 not placed in first 4 on previous run. Corbetts Cross (1/4) fell when challenging at Fairyhouseand Ravenhill fell in the Troytown, distracted by a faller just in front of him. Rathvinden was being tapped for toe in the 2m 5f Flofas chase before unseating, had been second in a Drinmore. Cause Of Causes last of 5 in the Galmoy Hurdle but down the field in a Drinmore before that. Chicago Grey previous run 5l 5th in a 3m Nov Ch G1 at Leopardstown Christmas. Butler’s Cabin unplaced last time in a Cheltenham G3 H'cap Chase but had won Class 3 chase at Cheltenham that season.

34 of past 39, 1^st or 2^nd in either of past two runs (not Rathvinden U then a BD, not Tiger Roll, 3rd in his previous two outings, Cause of Causes, Butler’s Cabin or Another Rum '05). 15 from last 19 finished in the top 5 last time out.

NO OF PREVIOUS CHASE RUNS - Despite WPM smashing this stat with Stattler (2), by and large this number has increased as this became more of a Graded event. No of previous chases going back 15 years. last year's winner first, 4-8-2-8-6-5-10-10-4-10-4-3-5-9-11. 29 horses having 9 chases or more have run in the past 14 yrs, 5 winners, P&L +22pts. Run Wild Fred 2nd 2022. 2021 Galvin joint top with eight runs. Three in 2020, best Lord Du Mesnil in second. Only Atlanta Blaze qualified in 2019, 20/1, third when fell 2 out. Three ran in 2018, finished 1st and 3rd. 2016 Minella Rocco only 4 chases, but came from being placed in a G2, 2013 Back In Focus only 3 runs, straight from winning a Leopardstown G1.

25 from the last 27 had finished first or second in a chase over at least 3 miles. (not Le Brueil, only 3rd in a G2. Not Butler’s Cabin but he had never run over 3 miles). Corbetts 2nd in the December Leopardston G1, Gaillard, 3rd in an Irish National, Stattler won a Navan G3, Galvin course 3 mile nov ch winner, Ravenhill, 2nd in the 106k Kerry National, Rathvinden had jogged round a beginners chase at Wexford before returning to shorter trips. Tiger Roll won the 44k Munster National, Minella Rocco 2nd in a G2 Reynoldstown G2. Midnight Prayer won a Warwick Novice. Back In Focus came from winning a G1. Cause Of Causes previously 2nd in both a Paddy Power Chase and a Kim Muir. Was kept as a novice for this after finishing 10th in Irish National.

Reynoldstown - Since 2014 nine runners have come from Ascot. The 1-2-3 came last year Kilbeg King best in 4th. 2021 Remastered won at Ascot, started 11/2 here, faded, 5th. No others have come since 2018, preferring the Broadway/Brown Advisory alternative. Minella Rocco 2nd at Newbury, won here. Ms Parfois, 2nd at Ascot, 2nd here.

33 from last 38 all out at least 4 times that season. Not Gaillard, Stattler and Cause of Causes from the winners since 2010. Stattler only one in last 20 not to have run at least 3 times over fences. Gaillard Du Mesnil a high performing second season chaser. Wouldn't have been out of place in the Gold Cup imho. Ravenhill's first chase was on the 30th May and had finished 5th behind Borice in the Galway Plate. Rathvinden's win was his 11th chase. Brought back to chasing after 1004 days away. Some trainer is WPM. Tiger Roll's win was also his 11th chase. On the go over fences since Ballinrobe on 31st May. In Belfast Preview Night Gordon Elliott said he wouldn't win as Jamie Codd had jumped ship for something else. But in came Lisa O'Neill, the daisy. He head butted three ditches and won in a jog. Chicago Grey had 9 previous chases, Poker de Sivola had actually competed in 12 chases, winning only on his previous run).

All of the last 13 apart from Stattler (G3 winner) and Back In Focus (G1 winner and only three chases) had run at least 4 times over fences.

13 of the last 25 had already run in handicap company, 6 winning, 7 placed. Corbetts Cross jogged a 3m Fairyhouse h'cap hurdle. Gaillard placed in an Irish National. Galvin had been second to Imperial Aura in the 2m 4f nov h'cap. 12 hadn't run in h'caps including neither Stattler, Le Breuil nor any of Rathvinden's 11 runs. Ravenhill, Tiger Roll, Cause Of Causes all very, very solid handicap form.

TRIP - Only three winners this century had already run in a race in excess of 3m 2f. Gaillard Du Mesnil, Cause of Causes both ran in the previous Irish National.

All bar Corbetts Cross, Stattler, Le Breuil and Minella Rocco of the last 15 had run in a chase by 31st October. Galvin had run in eight by that stage, Le Breuil ran in 5 chases before Cheltenham starting on the 4th November. Minella Rocco had won a p2p in March '14. His first chase was on the 20th November. Gallard Du Mesnil and Rathvinden's first chase was actually in December, 15 months before their win here. Seven of last 13 had spent at least two seasons over hurdles (I'm including Ravenhill's hurdles run in May). Rathvinden off for those 1004 days after finishing 3rd to Faugheen in a Ballymore. (That's why he was a novice chaser at the age of ten).

11 from last 18 had competed before in at least one Cheltenham chase. Gaillard du Mesnil 3rd in a Brown Advisory. Galvin in two, a win and a second. All of those bar Tiger Roll and Minella Rocco placed at least once. Tiger Roll finished 3rd of six in the course novice chase that Galvin subsequently won but he had achieved two previous course wins including a Triumph hurdle. Minella Rocco had two previous attempts at course chases. Didn't take to it on either occasion. Maybe soft ground? Rathvinden, 3rd in Ballymore. Le Breuil had been twice second in on-course chases. Ravenhill, Midnight Prayer, Back In Focus and Old Benny had never been here before. Stattler 4th in the Albert Bartlett when 7/2 fav. Corbetts Cross ran out at the last.

Since 2002, 10 winners had previously won a hurdle race over 3 miles. 3 others had been second (Tricky Trickster and Poker de Sivola had both been 2nd 'staying on' in such a race. Rith Duth had been 2nd in a 3m maiden hurdle to Paris Pike). Exceptions include Gaillard winner 2m 6f G1 at the DRF, Stattler 3rd that DRF G1, Midnight Prayer, winner of and 'staying on' in a 2m 6f hurdle, Chicago Grey 2nd in 2m 6f hurdle. Ravenhill is actually the only winner in the last nine to have won a 3-mile hurdle. Galvin had never run in one but was a staying on 6th of 16 in City Island's Ballymore. Hurdle off a 140 rating.

Minella Rocco had won an Irish p2p and Cause Of Causes was classy enough to finish 2nd in a Galway Hurdle and win the £84k Ladbroke at Ascot. Beaten 13l in Galmoy Hurdle. Tiger Roll had two attempts at 3-mile hurdles, unpl in a Stayers. 15 from last 17 had a hurdles mark of at least 119 (as if that helps). Corbetts 148, Gaillard 150, Stattler 142, Ravenhill 131, Le Breuil best hurdle rating was 145, one run in a 3m hurdle PU, Rathvinden had never run in a 3m hurdle. His hurdle rating would have been 150+. Tiger Roll had an Irish hurdle rating of 150, Minella Rocco had only two hurdle runs, winning both. Cause Of Causes got to 152, Midnight Prayer's BHA rating was only 123. With this now being a handicap, high hurdles ratings may be irrelevant.

6 of last 26 had yet to win over fences. But none of the last seven. But none of the last eight Minella Rocco and Cause Of Causes yet to score. Previous six to them had all also already won a chase. Rathvinden had won two G3 novices at Galway and Tipperary. Le Breuil a 2m 4f novice chase at Huntingdon. Ravenhill a 16k Limerick handicap. Galvin's four chase wins had won him £30k. Gaillard Du Mesnil had already won £145k over fences and £145k over hurdles. Corbetts only a beginners but he was 1/4 to win at Fairyhouse.

Only Corbetts Cross, Cause Of Causes, Minella Rocco and Teaforthree of the last 12 had yet to win a chase worth more than £6k to the winner. Going back from Corbetts Cross, chase winnings already gained by these novices before this race were £23k, £145k, £21k, £60k, £80k, £28k, £55k, £68k, £8k, £30, £15k, £70k. As I said above, no more romantic slow old boats. Hard to believe that Ravenhill had already won £80k.

RATINGS - Flattening. Going backwards the winners were 150, 155, 153, 152, 142, 145, 150, 152, 143, 146, 139, 146 and 151 respectively. Corbetts Cross joint second rated with Embassy Gardens. Galliard Du Mesnil top rated by 8lbs, Run Wild Fred top rated 2022 off 158, Next Destination top rated 2021 off 153. The COVID professionals year. Jack outrode Harry. Lord Du Mesnil, 2nd and top-rated in 2020 off 153. Carefully Selected second top-rated off 152. Ravenhill only joint 4th top-rated. 2019 Le Breuil well down the list behind top-rated OK Corral at 153. 2018 Rathvinden was joint top rated with Mossback. 2017 Tiger Roll was second top-rated behind the patiently ridden and unfortunate Edwulf on 159. 2016 Minella Rocco at 143 was the lowest rated of the first seven home. Cause Of Causes joint third top rated. Shotgun Paddy top rated was second here off 151. Previous run was to win Warwick Classic Chase. In 2013 Tofino Bay 2nd was rated 149 and Rival D'Estruval who fell 2 out was 143. Top Rated has finished 111205P1P2221 (Gaillard the last named) over the past 12 years.

Horses rated 150+ are eight from 20 in the past 13 years. The last four winners. 1-2 from few qualifiers in 2024, 2022 and 2021. Only Midnight Prayer of the last 13 rated below 142. Top rated now will be 145 so this is sadly irrelevant.

143 of the last 15 had either contested at least a Grade 3 chase or a Grade A h'cap earlier that season.

FUTURE GLORIES? - Not so much yet from 2024 vintage, Mr Vango and Henry's Friend have won big Cl2 GB handicaps and Embassy Gardens took the Jan 1 chase at Tramore. Gaillard's next run was to be 3rd to Corach Rambler in the Grand National. Mahler Mission 2nd in Newbury's Coral Cup. From 2022 Stattler a gallant 2nd to Galopin Des Champs in an Irish Gold Cup, Vanillier 3rd in the National. Galvin second to Frodon at Down Royal, then wins Savills, Snow Leopardess a Bechers, Remastered's been close in a couple, including the 2022 Ladbroke Chase. I think the 2020 soft ground bottomed a few but Lord du Mesnil and Smoking Gun have since won big handicaps. Ok Corral, Mulcahy's Hill, Discorama and Warthog did not do any harm for 2019 vintage. Other subsequent winners too. Second in 2018 Ms Parfois, next time 2nd in an Aintree G1, Third in 2018 was Sizing Tennesse (Ladbroke Chase winner 2018 at 12s), 4th home Impulsive Star (Warrick Classic 8s). Jury Duty (American Grand National), Shades of Midnight Reigning Supreme all since won decent races. 2017, Tiger Roll, Edwulf, Missed Approach and Beware The Bear have all since won decent pots. (If you call back to back Grand Nationals, 'decent') Top rated 2016 was Vicente (153). Next run won Scottish National. And then won it again in 2017. Noble Endeavour (Paddypower Chase) going well when falling two out. Top rated in 2015 was Thunder And Roses (148). Next run won Irish National. 2014 Shutthefrontdoor 6th before doing the same. 2013 Godsmejudge 3rd here, then won Scottish National. 2011, Beshabar, 2nd here, yes, wins Scottish National.

WARWICK - 3m 2f Cl3 Nov Ch in February won by Midnight Prayer in 2014. Also Relaxation in 2000 and Old Benny 2008 ran well in Warwick Novices. Grey Dawning won the Turners, beat Apple Away at Warwick, 5/1 and last here.

6 of the last 8 British trained winners ran in a Newbury Chase - Le Breuil 3rd of seven over 3m behind Santini. Also Ms Parfois won at Newbury, 2nd here. Native River 2nd here 2016 (beat Un Temps Pour Tout at Newbury). Check out the John Francome Novices Chase.

WINNING JOCKEYS. - The best amateurs win this ('24 D O'Connor '23, '22 PW Mullins, '20, '19 Jamie Codd, '18 PW Mullins, '17 the fantastic Lisa O'Neill, '16 Derek O'Connor, '15 JJ Codd, '14 Joshua Newman '13 PW Mullins, '12 JT McNamara, '11 D O'Connor, '10 Katie Walsh, '09 S Waley Cohen). However, the field was alwaysl of the best amateurs. Unfortunately may not be the case any more. The Doc should have been at least 2nd in 2017 on Edwulf, was 3rd on The Job Is Right 2015, 2nd on Shotgun Paddy in '15, 4th on Any Currency 7/1 in '10, 2nd on Drumconvis 22/1 in '09. Super ride from him on on Minella Rocco who traded at 32s in running. Was giving him a reminder with a circuit to go. In 2021 COVID prevented the amateurs riding.

With winning in 2023 Patrick Mullins becomes the only jockey to win this four times since at least 1946. Jamie Codd on three. Oft repeated, Jamie and Derek are worth at least half a stone. Jamie the top ever Festival amateur with 10 wins. Has never won the Foxhunters. Patick is on nine, The Doc is on five Festival winners including three. Patrick rode three winners at the 2022 Festival. Stattler, Facile Vega and a stormer on Billaway. .

GORDON ELLIOTT - Ravenhill, Tiger Roll, Cause of Causes and Chicago Grey all trained by the MAN, four winners in the last 14. (And Galvin although the name on the ticket was Ian Ferguson). Chemical Energy and Run Wild Fred both 2nd in last two years, Escaria Ten 11/4 fav in third 2021. Salvador Ziggy PU last year. Also had Noble Endeavour in 2016 travelling nicely when fell two out. Jury Duty (ground) Mossback fell 2018, Gun Digger PU 2019. Gordon technically has four winners from only 13 runners.

MARES - Got 7 lbs. Not relevant now. Two in the last two years didn't count. None in 2022, Snow Leopardess 4th 2021 at 16s. None ran in 2020, Atlanta Ablaze ran rightly in 2019. Ms Parfois 2nd 2018, four others have tried in last 14 since this became graded. The Leopardess had been 2nd in a Rowland Meyrick and won a £25k Haydock Chase. Ms Parfois had won two listed Mares chases, only one of which was for Mares alone. 2nd of 4th last time out in a Reynoldstown. No other mares placed and none have come here with the level of form of those two.

Jonjo O’Neill – Five winners this century and six in all. Minella Rocco only one since Butler’s Cabin 2007 was the stable's winning second string. JP McManus has owned seven winners and also had five placed (and Edwulf). Two blinkered winners trained by Jonjo. Corbetts Cross first JP runner in five years, OK Corral 4/1 PU 2019 and no runners in five of the previous seven years. Also owned Shutthefrontdoor 4/1 6th in 2014.

Pipe stable has never won this. Martin had been second four times, David second '08 and again in 2015 with Broadway Buffalo 12/1. In the last twelve Remastered 5th at 11/2 2021, in 2019 Warthog 100/1 (PU but then won the G3 Caspian Caviar) Buddy Bolero 4th, Sona Sasta 6th, Over The Creek 2nd 7/1, Control Man 3^rd 11/1, Not Left Yet, Sixo and Basilea Star, Gentle Ranger all falling when in contention. Champers on Ice 7s and What A Moment both PU in 2017. No runner 2018, 2020 or last two years. A King 2 winners in '08 and '14 and Godsmejudge 3rd in 2013.

Paul Nicholls (his column) 'has been trying to win this since Rampoldi was pulled up in '94. Find that strange as Segal says he 'is the best trainer of staying chasers.' He is 0 from 19 in this race. (Most recent runner was 2021 Next Destination rerouted here to run away from Monkfish as Royal Paguille made a dismal GC show). No runner previous three years, Arpege D'Alene a good 4th in 2017, Vicente 5th, Vivaldi Collonges PU 2015, Hawkes Point PU 2013, Harry The Viking 2nd in 2012). Three placed from 19 (12 of them started in first 6 in betting).

Willie Mullins has won this four times as a trainer and twice as a jockey. Shed a nice tear in 2013 when Patrick got Back In Focus home in front. (Along with Gaillard Du Mesnil, Stattler, Rathvinden, Haymount 3rd at 33s 2017, Measureofmydreams 3rd, Perfect Gentleman 4th, Suntiep 3rd, unlucky in 2012, Allez Garde brought down stablemate Soll). 2019 Ballyward backed down to 9/4 fav, fell at the 17th. Carefully Selected turned over in 2020 at 10/1. Lord Royal 10s, disappointing in 7th 2021. Ramillies, Classic Getaway, Kilcruit, Mahler Mission. Patrick has ridden all Willie's winners.

Willie tends to use the Grade 3 Naas 3 mile novice at the end of January for a prep for this. The Naas race has recently featured Embassy Gardens, Stattler, Ballyward, Carefully Selected, Pont Alexandre. Other stables' notables to have run in this race include Eklat de Rire, Jury Duty and Tofino Bay. Embassy Gardens bt Sandoe Clegane.

N Henderson has yet to win this. Five runners in past 13. Didn't check his stats for OK Corral, only two previous chase runs, best ever finisher Beware The Bear 7th 2017. City Chief didn't try his luck last year against the owner's first string but Mister Coffey did. A credible 3rd then a fine run under the Doc in the 2023 Grand National. And guess what? He's still eligible to return this year!

Irish trained - 12 winners from last 28 but more relevant, seven of the last eight. 1-2 last year and 2023, 1-2-3 2022 1-3 2021, 1-4 in 2020, Discorama 2nd 2019 for Paul Nolan, Rathvinden won 2018. 2017 1st and 3rd (and Edwulf), 3rd 2016, 1st, 3rd and 4th in 2015, only 3rd 2014, winner and 2nd in 2013, 3rd and 4th in 2012, G Elliott winner Chicago Grey in 2011, also 4th and 5th from 5 runners. Irish trained 6 of 10 runners last year, 4 of the six strong field 2022, 4 runners from 12 2021, 4 from 14 2020, 5 from 20 2019. 4 from 16 runners 2018, 6 from 18 2017. It actually pays to back them all, blind.

Corbetts Cross breaking the sats that of the Irish trained winners last win was in a beginner's chase. But he had fallen when cruising at 1/4 in a rated chase last time out.

Ten Up Chase Navan In February 2015 it was won by Measureofmydreams who then finished 3rd here. Black Hercules fell when about to win the Ten Up then won the JLT. Noble Endeavour finished 5l 2nd at Navan, then fell 2 out in 4 miler when not completely out of it. The race has produced Another Rum to win this in 2005. He only finished 4th at Navan. Very Wood fav unplaced here 2015 after winning Ten Up. 2016 winner Acapella Bourgeois finished a mile behind Might Bite in the RSA but was second home some 32 lengths behind, Road To Respect hacked round in the Mildmay. 2018, Mossback fatally injured at the 18th fence. Chris's Dream not entered but won a Troytown. Any Second Now, 3rd at Navan then won the Kim Muir. Forza Milan, oddly, ran 4th to Ravenhill at Cheltenham before 3rd in the Ten Up. 2023 Ten Up winner Farouk D'Alene was about to pounce on LHomme Presse in the Brown Advisory before falling two out. Mahler Mission 2nd in the Ten Up, went home from 4 out here, fell two out, Patrick 'always confident of catching him.' Last year American Mike beat Nick Rockett and Minnella Cucooner, the 1-3 in the Sandown BET365 Chase.

Used to be the best race in festival for blinkered/cheekpieces/visors/hoods etc runners. Six winners from 111 qualifiers over last 21 renewals. Five of the seven last year, a 1-2-3-4. Remarkably 1st time hood beat 1st time hood beat 1st time cheekpieces. Three tried 2023, all stuffed. Run Wild Fred 2nd 2022 in cheekpieces, two no-hopers 2021, five ran 2020, best Lord Du Mesnil 2nd. In 2018 ten ran, best Clondaw Cian a plugged on 4th at 125/1, Impulsive Star best of five in 4th 2018, 2017 Tiger Roll won in his usual blinkers, Missed Approach 2nd wore first-time cheekpieces. Native River 2nd 2016 from 10 qualifiers, 1-2-3 in 2015 (none first-time wearers).

PRICE - Last year 15/8 beat 7/4 fav, not much between them. As stated here in 2023, the favourite was due. Only clear fav to win in 11 renewals. Only two and a half favourites in the 20 years to 2010 then Chicago Grey, Teaforthree and Back In Focus came together. Like buses. Native Emperor ‘04 first (joint) favourite winner since ’92. Only two of the previous nine favourites finished in the first four. 2015 Very Wood 7/2f, 10th. 2017 A Genie In A Bottle 4/1 fav, 5th. 2016 Minella Rocco was the overnight 5/1 fav, opened 10s on course, went for a walk in running when Derek seemed to have trouble getting him to go out on the final lap. But Derek knew. Late money for Escaria Ten 2021 made him 11/4 fav, in 2022 there wasn't much to pick between the top two in the market.

14 BFs last time over the past six, three of the seven last year, including Corbetts Cross, 1/4 faller last time. Four of the 10 runners 2023. Mahler Mission the best to perform, Run Wild Fred was a BF, other finishers Snow Leopardess 4th 2021, Jerrysback 3rd 2019 and Sizing Tennessee in 3rd 2018. In 2017 four ran, best Arpege D'Alene in 4th. 2016 one BF last time, PU. 2015 Broadway Buffalo finished 2nd. 2020, took a long time to find Smoking Gun.

Corbetts Cross became the first this century to win having been BF last time out.

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