Centenary Novices Chase

The Centenary Novices Chase is the final race of a spectacular opening day at the Cheltenham Festival. It is a listed handicap race for novice chasers. Run over an approximate distance of 2 miles and 4 1/2 furlongs, there is a total of sixteen fences to be jumped. The race was another to be added when the festival became a four-day event, and from 2005-2010 it was the Jewson Novices Handicap Chase, before Jewson switched their sponsorship to the Jewson Novices Chase. Horses can only have a maximum handicap rating of 140 and it typically provides a highly competitive race.

Jumping For Listed Success

At this stage it is hard to know which horses will take part in the 2012 Centenary Novices Chase. Only a few bookmakers have priced up possible runners and the usual rule for ante post betting applies, whereby I could only recommend backing a horse if is clear that the race is the intended target. We can, however, still look at the short history of the race and see if there are any useful betting trends to take note of.

This isn’t too straight forward, though, due to the handicap ceiling of 140 only coming in to play from 2011. The trends show that all seven winners have had a rating of less than 140. However due to the new ceiling of 140 we can’t rule out horses that are rated above that mark going in to the race. Despite being a listed race, it is still important to have had good form during the season, with all seven winners having finished in the top two of their previous start. That being said, we are still looking for a unexposed type to take victory, as shown by six of the seven winners having not won more than once over fences before the race.

Diving To Glory

The 2011 Centenary Novices Chase was won by the Ferdy Murphy trained Divers. Held up at the back, the grey looked to be pulling fairly hard. He remained at the back under a cool ride from jockey Graham Lee and they made steady progress through the field, entering the final straight a few lengths off the leader in around fifth. He jumped the last just behind Quantitativeeasing but had enough left to push on and take victory by just over two lengths.

The race has worked out pretty well with several of the field progressing well this season and winning their share of races. Quantitativeeasing finished second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup before winning a valuable handicap the next time out. Shakalakaboomboom, who finished back in ninth, has made just one appearance this season, but created a good impression when powering home to win a Grade 3 handicap chase against some useful sorts including Mon Parrain. Hopefully this year’s Cheltenham Festival will produce another thrilling Centenary Novices Chase.