13:20 Cheltenham Marsh Novices’ Chase Betting Odds & Tips: Cheltenham 2021 – 18th March 2021

Envoi Allen to deliver the odds in Marsh Novices' at Cheltenham 2021?

Horse Racing Betting

The opening act for Thursday at Cheltenham 2021 is the Marsh Novices’ Chase betting.

This is a Grade 1 fixture at an extended 2m 3f distance and there are 8 declared runners for this novices’ contest.

Heading up that field of eight is favourite ENVOI ALLEN who is in at odds-on.

Last year winner of the Marsh Novices’ was eight-year-old SAMCRO from a 4/1 SP (D N Russell / G Elliott)

Marsh Novices’ Chase Betting Odds

Envoi Allen 1/2
Chantry House 9/1
Shan Blue 10/1
Chatham Street Lad 11/1
Fusil Raffles 16/1
Asterion Forlonge 25/1
Darver Star 28/1
Blackbow 33/1
* (betting odds recorded at 19:09 GMT on March 17th, 2021)


Horse Racing Betting at 888sport

Envoi Allen 1/2 odds-on FAV for Marsh Novices

There is a strong favourite in Marsh Novices’ Chase betting odds.

That is ENVOI ALLEN at 1/2 odds-on* (betting odds recorded at 19:09 GMT on March 17th, 2021).

It’s pretty understandable as the seven-year-old looks to be head and shoulders above the competition in this one.

This will be the first run for him for Henry de Bromhead as Envoi Allen look to continue his brilliant unbeaten form.

He’s moved on to three wins from three this season, the most recent of those being a Grade 3 at Punchestown in January.

That was an easy win, earned by three and a half lengths.

Envoi Allen handles versatile ground and this top-class prospect has won at the last two Cheltenham Festivals as well.

It’s now eleven wins from eleven runs under rules for Envoi Allen and has taken to chasing this season like it was nothing.

Upsets happen of course, but Envoi Allen will have been pegged as a Cheltenham banker

Shan Blue w/o Envoi Allen
7/2

888sport

Can Chantry House pull off a major upset?

A year ago CHANTRY HOUSE was in the Supreme Hurdle and took third place in that contest.

It was a good showing from him. There has been decent form from him ahead of Cheltenham as well this go around.

The seven-year-old picked up a win in a Wetherby novice event last month for trainer Nicky Henderson.

That was the second win of the season for him after picking up a win at Ascot on his reappearance.

Chantry House looks as if he needs more in a big step up to compete for the win in this one. But at the same time, he looks as if he has a lot more in him.

If Envoi Allen wasn’t in the race then there would be major claims for the win for Chantry House.

But he looks to be a fair way short of the quality of that particular rival.

But place claims are certainly there for Chantry House who is a 9/1 contender in Marsh Novices’ Chase betting* (betting odds recorded at 19:09 GMT on March 17th, 2021).

Shan Blue in the mix for a place finish

SHAN BLUE is a brilliant jumper. He just makes light work of pretty much anything that is put in front of him.

So he does have credentials to put himself in the frame for second place in this contest because his jumping ability is outrageously good.

It has been an excellent campaign from him this season, putting together a hattrick.

Shan Blue completed that hattrick on Boxing Day with a win in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

So David Skelton’s seven years should make his presence felt in the Marsh Novices. He carried his strong form through to his most recent effort.

In that Shan Blue took a second place finish to SPORTING JOHN in the Scilly Isles at Sandown. He had excuses in that one as well.

Basically, at the end of the day, his jumping will keep in the mix.

Shan Blue is at 10/1 in the outright market for Marsh Novices’ Chase betting* (betting odds recorded at 19:09 GMT on March 17th, 2021).

 

Last 10 Supreme Novices’ Winners (age, trainer, jockey)

  • 2020 Samcro, 8, G Elliott, Davy Russell
  • 2019 Defi Du Seuil, 6, P Hobbs, B J Geraghty
  • 2018 Shattered Love, 7, G Elliott, Jack Kennedy
  • 2017 Yorkhill, 7, W P Mullins, Ruby Walsh
  • 2016 Black Hercules, 7, W P Mullins, Ruby Walsh
  • 2015 Vautour, 6, W P Mullins, Ruby Walsh
  • 2014 Taquin Du Seuil, 7, Jonjo O’Neill, A P McCoy
  • 2013 Benefficient, 7, A J Martin, Bryan Cooper
  • 2012 Sir Des Champs, 6, W P Mullins, Davy Russell
  • 2011 Noble Prince, 7, P Nolan, A P McCoy

 

Blackbow to spring an e/w challenge?

Willie Mullins’ BLACKBOW is a long 33/1 shot in this field* (betting odds recorded at 19:09 GMT on March 17th, 2021).

He opened the season with a nice victory at Navan on his chase debut in November. That confirmed a bit of promise that he has on his side.

He has failed to deliver a win on any of his three runs since then, but he has been in the frame in his last two.

Blackbow has found the brilliant stablemate ENERGUMENE too good for him in his last two efforts and, well, there is absolutely no disgrace in that.

So Blackbow is really interesting in this contest to see if he can get himself into the frame again. He does come up on trips which could suit.

We think he has a reasonable chance at that and piques some interest as an each-way option in Marsh Novices’ Chase betting odds.

Can Fusil Raffles get his jumping right?

FUSIL RAFFLES is a frustrating sort for supporters at times because he sometimes appears to be on the edge of a poor jumping performance.

He’s not the most stable in that department.

But Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old has potential and in December he made it three wins in four chase efforts with a score.

He did have a bit of luck in that one as the nearest challenger faltered at the end. This will be the first run in three months for Fusil Raffles.

He generally handles coming back fresh very well and is certainly not out of place claim chances.

Fusil Raffles is a quote of 16/1 in the market* (betting odds recorded at 19:09 GMT on March 17th, 2021).

The Rest of the Runners

ASTERION FORLONGE may have a little too much on his plate at the moment. He has failed to complete two of his last three runs this season.

It was on his latest that he got around, taking fourth place to winner Monkfish in a Leopardstown chase.

CHATHAM STREET LAD has won three times this campaign and vastly improved scoring the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup in December.

He was sent out on a further trip at Fairyhouse a month later and struggled a bit at what was a 2m 1f distance.

The trip is in question for Chatham Street Lad and this is a big jump up in quality as well for him.

DARVER STAR looks like an outsider in his one after struggling for recent form. He did get a good second place over Christmas in a Leopardstown Grade 1.

But on his return there 40 days ago he was well held and looks a little short of what it’s going to take to win this.

Predictions & Tips for March Novices’ Chase Racing Odds

ENVOI ALLEN is righltyy one of the headlining acts of the Cheltenham Festival 2021. Yesterday we saw red hot favourite Chacun Pour Soi upset in the Champion Hurdle.

Do we see Envoi Allen going the same way and missing the boat? No. Not in this kind of company we don’t.

He is the 1/2 favourite and that price is likely to get worse* (betting odds recorded at 19:09 GMT on March 17th, 2021).

So in the w/o Envoi Allen market, we are going straight to SHAN BLUE who looks a solid option at 7/2 to earn that second place* (betting odds recorded at 19:09 GMT on March 17th, 2021).

While he needs more, we think he gets up there because of his jumping.

We are going longer for a bigger option on BLACKBOW who may be a little underestimated at the end of the day.

There is a 4/1 quote on him to take a top-three finish, which we don’t think is out of his scope* (betting odds recorded at 19:09 GMT on March 17th, 2021).

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