Cheltenham Festival 2019 – Tuesday, March 12th, 2019
The Close Brothers Novices Handicap Chase involves horses five or older in this race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival 2019. There are sixteen fences for the novice chasers to take on in this one which goes over 2 miles and 4 furlongs.
The entrants have to have a rating of up to 145 to take part. Riders On The Storm goes as the 7/1 favourite for this year’s renewal* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 10th, 2019 at 9:29 pm)
Close Brothers 2019 Winner Odds*
Riders On The Storm 7/1
A Plus Tard 8/1
Movewiththetimes 8/1
Tower Bridge 9/1
Cubomania 12/1
Highway One O One 12/1
Ben Dundee 12/1
Walt 12/1
Lough Derg Spirit 14/1
Roaring Bull 14/1
Shady Operator 14/1
Springtown Lake 16/1
Red Indian 16/1
Solomn Grundy 16/1
Good Man Pat 16/1
Huntsman Son 20/1
The Russian Doyen 20/1
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 10th, 2019 at 9:29 pm)
Mister Whitaker was last season’s winner, the fourth six-year-old to win the race in the last six editions. Just once before has there been a nine-year-old winner of the Close Bothers which was Ballyalton back in 2016. Riders On The Storm posted a win at Punchestown in early February over Impact Factor to stake his claim in this one. He’s a bit untested at this distance though.
Nicky Henderson Lough Derg Spirit is towards the higher end of the ratings at 142. He posted a win in his last round as well, when he destroyed Lillington by over ten lengths. Given that the beaten Lillington went on to win his next race actually raised the form of Lough Derg Spirit with the win over him.
Going off at the top weight in the right will be Highway One O One who is a seven year old. He took a second place last time out over a longer distance, putting on a decent showing on the day. He has actually looked pretty solid and reliable all season. He may well be up there when it comes to the business end of the race and is a good 12/1 odds each way option at worst* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 10th, 2019 at 9:29 pm)
Movewiththetimes has no trend to back him going into this one as he hasn’t been out this season. A fall at Fakenham on his chase debut and then on the Cheltenham track at the BetVictor Gold Cup won’t have exactly raised confidence. But there’s not a bad handicap on him for trainer Paul Nicholls
Hitting that 6-year-old mark is Cubomania who has shown good consistency and took a win on the Cheltenham track back in October. His stablemate is Roaring Bull at 14/1 odds* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 10th, 2019 at 9:29 pm) and he has shown decent form this season with a couple of wins over the fences. There have been indications that he is going to head back to Prestbury Park coming into top form just at the right time to challenge in this one.
Prediction
Roaring Bull and Highway One O One both appear to be pretty solid each way options for this race. It Will be interesting to see how the latter handles top weight in the race but looks a really solid, promising Chaser. As for the outright winner, it is Lough Derg Spirit who looks the best fit to claim the victory at 14/1 odds* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 10th, 2019 at 9:29 pm)
