Hell’s Kitchen is the obvious choice for Richard Mann as he looks at the form and betting for the Novice Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Hell’s Kitchen is Richard Mann's Close Brothers Novice Handicap Chase tip at Cheltenham.
A promising sort over hurdles, chasing has long been the aim with him and it all came together when he impressively landed a decent handicap at Kempton on Boxing Day.
With that form working out really well and the promise of more to come from a horse who isn’t the finished article just yet, he has to be respected off a mark of 145 and looks worth supporting at 10/1 with the non runner no bet concession.
Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase odds
This is the first year that this race has been open to horses rated above 140 so the likes of Hell’s Kitchen and Barney Dwan now have the handicap option instead of taking one Grade One performers in either the JLT Novices’ Chase or RSA Novices’ Chase.
This can only improve the quality of this race and may well allow a potential top-notcher to use this as another route to the top.
Close Brothers entries racecard and form
Barney Dwan is one who could benefit from this move and recent wins at Market Rasen and Musselburgh suggest he is a chaser firmly on the upgrade while, if taking this route, the classy Kemboy would sneak in at the top of weights and give Willie Mullins a fascinating contender.
