Cheltenham Festival- The Jewson Novice Chase

Day 3 - Wednesday 15th March 2012 - Jewson Novices' Chase - Grade 2 - 2m4f

Champion Court E/W (12/1 with Hills and Power)

Solix E/W (12/1 with Hills and Ladbrokes)

Remember only back with a bookmaker who will give you a No run No bet terms.

The following are currently trading under 20/1:Peddlers Cross* Al Ferof* Silviniaco Conti* Sir Des Champs Cristal Bonus For Non Stop Champion Court Bog Warrior* Last Instalment* Solix Walkon Zaynar

There is a good chance that the horses with asterisks wont run.

I’d be surprised if ante post favourites Al Ferof and Peddlers Cross don’t take in the Arkle rather than this race and that leaves the race with an open looking appearance to it. That would leave Silvinacio Conti at the head of the betting and Nicholls has said that he is likely to give Cheltenham a miss this year and that he wants to swerve another meeting with Grand Crus. Cristal Bonus has entries in all of the novice races but was put in his place by Grand Crus in January, however he looked exciting when winning a Chepstow chase in the mud last month. Nicholls has said that the Jewson is the race for him, but he looks to be a mudlark.

Bog Warrior is appropriately named and would be a danger if he decided to go down this route, if the ground came up soft which it has only done once in the past 15 years, his trainer said not even sure to go to Festival. The same comment applies to Last Installment, whose trainer Phillip Fenton has said the horse won’t go to the Festival unless the ground is suitable.

Zaynar is a monkey; if he puts his best foot forward on the day he could spring a surprise, but he could just as easily finish well down the field, Nicky Henderson couldn’t get the best out of him.

Walkon’s jumping is a concern and he was beaten 11l by For Non Stop. Walkon also has an entry in the RSA, a race his trainer doesn’t like so I would be surprised if he doesn’t take up his engagement for this race. His jumping disappointed at Newbury and he could only finish 5^th in the Coral here last year.

Sir Des Champs (may still go for the RSA) won the Martin Pipe at the festival last year. He has taken well to fences and has won all 3 over fences this season, including a couple of Grade 2 chases. He has entries in all 3 novice chases and Willie Mullins has said he will go for the Jewson or the RSA. Big danger if he takes part in this race.

For Non Stop proved that his run against Al Ferof was no fluke when finishing 2^nd to Cue Card at Newbury, despite a mistake 3 out. Another who is also entered in the Arkle and I have a concern that this extra 4 furlongs is just a bit too far in a festival race.

I like the form of the Grade 2 Novice Chase at Cheltenham on Jan1, where Champion Court and Solix pulled a long way clear of their rivals.

Champion Court (12/1 with Hills and Power)

Champion Court is unlikely to win the RSA or the Ryanair, so his entry for this race looks the more realistic one, even though his trainer has stated that he needs 3 miles. He struggled up the hill last year in the Albert Bartlett, so the drop back to an extended 20f in a festival race with a stiff finish looks ideal.

Champion Court has a good record at Cheltenham and finished 2^nd to Grand Crus in November giving Grand Crus 7lb on the day, he also beat Zaynar that day by 3 lengths giving Zaynar 7lb.

He then struggled over an extended 3 mile 1f here in December and then narrowly beat Solix, dropped back to 2m 5f. The form looks solid and he has proved that he is effective getting up the hill over this trip.

Solix (12/1 with Hills and Ladbrokes)

Solix won his first 2 chases by big distances, but his jumping looked chancy. There is nothing between Champion Court and Solix on their Cheltenham run and the latter’s jumping showed improvement; his only entry for the Festival is the Jewson and he looks interesting if his jumping holds up on the day.

All the best Mark.