Architect Tips has previewed the Racing Post Novice Chase 2021 and has one ante-post tip for consideration.
Racing Post Novice Chase
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Racing Post Novice Chase 2021 Tips: Ante-Post Preview
Kempton's King George VI Chase meeting is undoubtedly the headline fixture of a busy Boxing Day racing programme, which promises to be an absolute belter. However, there is plenty of high-quality action away from the main cameras, including over in Ireland, where Leopardstown hosts a cracking four-day meeting, featuring the Racing Post Novice Chase on the opening day - a Grade 1 run over two-miles and a furlong. It has been a notable guide to the Arkle and Irish Arkle at the Cheltenham and Dublin Racing Festivals, with the likes of Moscow Flyer, Sizing Europe, Footpad, Min and Douvan featuring among previous winners, while last year’s victor Franco De Port - handed trainer Willie Mullins an historical seventh win in the contest.
His team is headed by 5/6 favourite - Ferny Hollow, who made a triumphant return to the track having been on the sidelines for a year when making an excellent start to his chasing career on the John Durkan undercard on chase debut. Willie Mullins’ six-year-old claimed the scalps of two high-class rivals on his two most recent outings in the shape of stablemate Appreciate It in last year’s Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and Bob Olinger on his first start over hurdles. In unforeseen circumstances, he missed the remainder of the season due to injury, but his winning comeback indicated that he retains all of his ability. The Westerner gelding, who was slow at the first couple of obstacles, jumped intelligently when beginning to learn his trade and, despite being headed between the final two fences, he quickened up nicely to put four-lengths between himself and Coeur Sublime at the line. He is also entitled to strip fitter for his run so makes obvious appeal with plenty more to offer, despite this being a fiercely competitive contest.
Riviere D’etel - currently quoted as second-favourite at 7/4 for Gordon Elliott, was useful over hurdles last term, winning once, as well as running well to finish seventh in the Boodles at the Cheltenham Festival. It’s clear to recognise that she’s taken well to this sphere, as she’s now unbeaten in three and capitalised on all the allowances when allowed to stride along and return an all-the-way winner in the Grade Two BetVictor Casino Novice Chase at Punchestown. The manner in which she pulled away from Cape Gentleman to win in convincing fashion was good and she’s clearly thriving with her racing this season, as demonstrated again when going pillar-to-post for the second consecutive time in a Grade Three last-time-out. She has the potential to reach even greater heights but the concern about her, especially for this race, is the opposition, as she’ll be going toe-to-toe with proven Grade 1 winners, such as Willie Mullins’ main protagonist - Ferny Hollow.
Speaking of last season’s Supreme Novices Hurdle winner, Appreciate It, who’s currently third in betting at a general 4/1, this enormous horse is yet to jump a fence in public, but is a specimen of a top-class novice chaser in the making and his performance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, despite it not being the highest-quality of renewals, was full of brilliance. His campaign was faultless, where he won each of his four races, including three consecutive Grade One prizes. I’m not sure whether connections will take up this option though, as Ferny Hollow is likely to be their main contender but if he does line-up, he’s a serious threat to all. His stablemate Blue Lord, a 10/1 chance, proved no match for Appreciate It in the Supreme in which he fell when looking booked for second but provided Ireland’s champion jockey Paul
Townend with the perfect comeback on chase debut, seeing off stablemate El Barra by a comfortable five and a half lengths. He could be a lively player at double-figure digits.
Blue Sari, also quoted at 10/1, got back to something like the horse he once promised when second last-time-out, but I feel as though he’s massively underachieved for connections since his bumper days and has plenty to prove in this grade so, on that account, he’s opposable and too short in the market for my liking. Dancing On My Own looked on good terms with himself when winning in October but has been found out in Grade 1 company before. This would require a career-best, too, especially with the runner-up from last time, Buddy Rich, subsequently letting the form down when only fourth in a weak-enough handicap chase.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained Midnight Run shouldn’t be overlooked at 16/1, however, who was in the process of running a big race in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase before falling three out. He failed to build on his winning hurdles debut last term but has improved markedly in this code - chasing home Captain Guinness and Gabynako prior to his mishap last-time-out. He is prone to making serious mistakes but, if he can put it all together, the seven-year-old could be the surprise package and go well in his bid to hand connections a second winner in this intriguing contest. Of the rest, perhaps Magic Daze should come onto the radar, who is building up quite a nice profile, so to speak. She failed to land the odds behind Concertista last-time-out having been granted a soft lead, which in turn, was admittedly a disappointing result, but is sure to progress and might sneak into the picture.
In conclusion, this is a very open-looking affair in which plenty have the ability to stake a claim but, although he might be a relatively short-priced favourite, there was plenty to like about FERNY HOLLOW’s (best price 5-6) chasing debut, who did well to overcome a long absence and win quite comfortably under Patrick Mullins. He would have learnt a lot from that experience and, based upon his smart hurdles/bumper form, it will be a surprise if he doesn’t develop into a high-class novice chaser this season. Yes, this is a deep edition of the event, but the complexion of the field is sure to become thinner upon final declarations so he might even go odds-on in the betting, therefore, Willie Mullins’ leading contender, who’s described as ‘special’ by the man himself, can make up for lost time and take the step up in grade in his stride.
