14:10 Cheltenham

Wednesday 14 March 2018

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

RSA Insurance Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 6m 32.0s

Al Boum Photo³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| BF

8/1

Useful hurdler who has yet to be tested over this 3m trip over fences but is expected to improve for it. Won on his chasing debut and ran a fine race in the Grade 1 Flogas Chase recently (2nd to Monalee) despite not jumping fluently; progress likely.

Form:

Allysson Monterg^t³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: R Hobson| OR: 139| BF

50/1

Returned from a long absence to make a winning debut over fences (wore first-time tongue-tie) matching anything he did over hurdles. Jumped and travelled well but now faces a much stiffer task over a new trip; needs to improve and lacks experience.

Form:

Ballyoptic³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 150| D

9/1

Has on occasions come close to matching his smart hurdles form over fences (won 2/4). Testing ground and a galloping track are always likely to suit him best and despite some jumping errors in the past will be suited by conditions here.

Form:

Black Corton^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 155| CD

5/1

Has gone from strength-to-strength all season winning eight chases from last summer in his usual straightforward style. His attitude and jumping ability will stand him in good stead here although there may be one or two with a class edge.

Form:

Bonbon Au Miel^t⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139

33/1

Lightly-raced over fences he improved on his debut over fences when taking a 2m4f novice last time appreciating the testing conditions. Despite the promise shown there this will be far more of a test and he can only be given an outside chance.

Form:

Dounikos³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 151

12/1

Despite losing his unbeaten record over fences last time he still took a forward step in terms of his form. Now has to reverse form with two of his conquerors from Leopardstown stepping back up in trip but hard to rule out this improving type.

Form:

Elegant Escape³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 153| D

9/1

Handed Black Corton one of his few defeats this season taking a significant step forward on his previous chasing form. Scored easily over this trip last time (odds-on favourite) without totally convincing, and may be better over further.

Form:

Full Irish^p1,t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Aspell| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 135| BF| D

100/1

His initial chasing win came when he was well ahead of his mark in handicaps although the assessor has seemingly caught up with him. Well beaten here last time (found little for pressure) and faces a stiff task here. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form:

Monalee³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 155| BF| D

10/3

Not far off the best of the staying novices over hurdles and continued that upward trajectory over fences winning two of his three starts (fell in the other). Showed a superb attitude and jumping technique to win the Grade 1 Flogas Chase last time.

Form:

Presenting Percy^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: P G Kelly| OR: 145| BF| CD

5/2

A Festival winner already (Pertemps Final), he's bettered that form over fences already proving that he's a high achiever in this sphere. A winner of three chases, he returned a career best last time despite being beaten by Our Duke; leading player.

Form:

Forecasts

Presenting Percy (5/2), Monalee (10/3), Black Corton (5/1), Al Boum Photo (8/1), Elegant Escape (9/1), Ballyoptic (9/1), Dounikos (12/1), Bonbon Au Miel (33/1), Allysson Monterg (50/1), Full Irish (100/1)

A good renewal with the Irish holding a strong hand with only the admirable Black Corton breaking into their quartet at the top of the market but he’s likely to come up short here. PRESENTING PERCY and Monalee are hard to split. Both have shown top class Festival form before with the former just preferred on the back of his second to Our Duke. Monalee showed up well over 2m5f last time and will appreciate this longer trip. Al Boum Photo and Dounikos give the Emerald Isle a very strong hand with both of that pair having also shown sound form over fences.