Cheltenham Festival 2019 – Wednesday, March 12th, 2019
There have been some big winners of this race in recent times with the likes of Blaklion and Might Bite to name a couple. This novices chase has also led to some future Gold Cup winners like Bobs Worth, Lord Windermere and Denman. This is going to be a huge staying challenge for the entrants and it is Delta Work who goes as the 9/4 favourite* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on March 12th, 2019 at 4:12 p.m.)
RSA Novices Odds*
Delta Work 9/4
Santini 4/1
Top Ofthegame 7/2
On The Blind Side 12/1
Mister Malarky 14/1
Mortal 14/1
Drovers Lane 16/1
The World’s End 25/1
Now Mcginty 28/1
Top Ville Ben 33/1
Count Meribel 66/1
Drinks Interval 66/1
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on March 12th, 2019 at 4:12 p.m.)
Delta Work switching it up
It has been an impressive switch up to the fences from Delta Work who has won three from three since making the move. He goes for Gordon Elliott in the race and the trainer hasn’t had a great deal of success in this race. So it will buck something of a trend if Delta Work was able to deliver from the position of a favourite here.
But Delta Work is a good contender here and he won the Pertemps twelve months ago at the course. He has won back to back grade one races and since going to the fences he has done a lot better with his career than he had done over the hurdles. With solid jumping from there as well, he is going to take plenty of backing.
Santini could shine back at Cheltenham
Santini was third in the Albert Bartlett last year. He is a course winner at Cheltenham so definitely has that going for him. With a couple of wins under his belt this season as well he looks right on point for trainer Nicky Henderson. He didn’t quite deliver at the Kauto Star Novices Chase at Kempton, but the fit at the Cheltenham track looks better.
On The Blind Side has only had two starts over the fences. As a nod to how good of jumper he is, he won three of his four starts over the hurdles. He produced a fine win at Kempton last time out and was bold enough to take things on from the front early. At 12/1 each way odds, he looks like a good fit* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on March 12th, 2019 at 4:12 p.m.).
Topofthegame has had a solid season and on a big test of distance challenge at the Kauto Star Chase at Kempton back on December 26th, he took a superb second-place finish. So there shouldn’t be any concerns over his staying ability. A couple of young chasers who could make each way options are The World’s End and Drovers Lane. Both look as if they are going to have to pull out a performance well above what they have produced so far to get in the picture.
Predictions
On The Blind Side is just about the perfect mark as a 12/1 each way shot* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on March 12th, 2019 at 4:12 p.m.). But when it boils down to picking out the clear winner then that can only be Santini who looks to have enough to hold off anyone who threatens his favouritism.
